April 2025 Yemen Food Security Update: Key Insights from the WFP for a Resilient Future

Key Highlights

• As of March 2025, over half of Yemeni households (57%) struggle to meet basic food needs. This represents a significant increase in severe food deprivation compared to the previous year. Although Ramadan and some salary payments provided slight relief, the overall situation worsened.
• The crisis is driven by various factors, including a prolonged economic downturn, reduced humanitarian funding, limited job opportunities, drought-like conditions impacting agriculture, and ongoing conflicts, particularly U.S. airstrikes and sanctions.
• Among internally displaced persons (IDPs), 61% reported inadequate food consumption, with 35% categorizing their food intake as poor. In camps, this figure rises to 40%. Many IDPs resort to extreme measures like skipping meals and begging for food.
• The Yemeni rial (YER) continues to lose value in areas governed by the Internationally Recognized Government (IRG), currently trading at YER 2,351 for every USD. Fuel prices are at all-time highs, further driving food inflation.
• The cost of a minimum food basket in IRG territories reached a record high in March, climbing 28% from a year prior. In Sana’a-based areas (SBA), food prices remain relatively stable, yet market activity is low due to poor purchasing power.
• Unfortunately, nearly half of children under five in Yemen are malnourished. An alarming 3.5 million children and women face acute malnutrition.
• Humanitarian aid faces significant challenges, with only 8% of the 2025 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan fully funded.

According to UNICEF reports, malnutrition rates have worsened in Yemen since the escalation of conflict in 2015. The organization has noted that investing in nutrition and health services is crucial. Health experts argue that without immediate intervention, these malnutrition trends could lead to long-term developmental issues for Yemeni children.

In recent social media discussions, many Yemenis are expressing frustration over the ongoing situation. Users have taken to platforms like Twitter to share personal stories about their struggles with obtaining food, highlighting the human face behind statistics. Posts frequently circulate, calling for international awareness and action regarding the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

For further insights, you can explore the UNICEF report on the situation in Yemen, which provides comprehensive data on health, nutrition, and humanitarian efforts.