Yemen’s Bimonthly Food and Nutrition Security Update: Key Insights and Crisis Risks (April 2025) – Joint Monitoring Report #8

KEY MESSAGES

The situation in Yemen is alarming. In February 2025, the Joint Monitoring Report (JMR) highlighted 119 critical alerts and 78 elevated risk warnings related to conflict, drought, displacement, fuel prices, and currency exchange rates. This modeling revealed that about 3.8 million people, or 11% of the population, were living in areas facing severe food insecurity, potentially reaching emergency levels.

Food insecurity remains a persistent issue. Reports from the FAO and WFP show that many Yemenis continued to struggle with inadequate food consumption in January. Key reasons include economic instability, soaring food prices, the impact of the ongoing lean season, limited job opportunities, and funding shortages disrupting humanitarian aid, especially in areas controlled by the Government of Yemen (GoY). Many families resorted to extreme measures to cope, such as selling belongings or pulling children out of school. While some slight relief was noted in food-based coping strategies, nearly half the households still used severe measures.

The outlook doesn’t improve as Yemen anticipates worsening drought conditions by mid-March 2025. Low rainfall and high temperatures threaten water supplies. Although some areas might receive light showers, many regions will see less than 5 mm of rain, significantly jeopardizing crop yields and livestock livelihoods.

In terms of currency, the exchange rate in GoY areas hit a worrying average of YER 2,300 to USD 1 in February, marking a 28% drop from the previous year. The plunge is largely due to dwindling foreign currency reserves stemming from halted oil exports and reduced remittances. In contrast, areas controlled by Ansar Allah (AA) maintained a more stable exchange rate at YER 536 to USD 1, thanks to government controls. Nonetheless, concerns remain about liquidity and disruptions in international banking.

Fuel prices are also on the rise, with significant increases in several GoY-controlled governorates. Al Dali’ experienced the steepest hike at 65% year-on-year. Meanwhile, AA areas saw a slight decline in fuel prices, largely due to price caps despite higher dollar costs elsewhere.

On the conflict front, February witnessed 25 heightened risk alerts across various regions, including Abyan, Aden, and Ta’iz. These alerts were often linked to violence, tribal clashes, and armed group confrontations. For instance, tribal conflicts in Al Bayda resulted in casualties, highlighting the ongoing instability.

Regarding displacement, the IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix recorded the movement of 365 new households between January and February. Of these, more than half cited conflict as their primary reason for leaving home, while the rest pointed to economic hardships.

In summary, Yemen faces a complex mix of challenges that are exasperating the humanitarian crisis. As experts suggest, addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach that considers both immediate needs and long-term solutions. The situation remains fluid, and the coming months will be critical in determining whether relief can be achieved.

For further insights into Yemen’s situation, check out reports from reputable organizations like the World Food Programme.

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