Sana’a — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has ranked Yemen as the third worst country in the world suffering from a severe food insecurity crisis, following Gaza and Sudan, according to a newly released humanitarian report.

The report warns that over 18 million Yemenis may face acute food insecurity by September 2025, with approximately 41,000 individuals at risk of falling into catastrophic famine-like conditions — the most alarming forecast since 2022. 

Data from WFP indicates that 66% of households across Yemen were unable to meet minimum food requirements in May, marking the highest level of inadequate food consumption recorded in recent years.

The crisis is driven by a combination of factors, including:

- Economic collapse

- Sharp decline in humanitarian aid due to funding shortages

- Limited livelihood opportunities

- Prolonged internal conflict

- Erratic rainfall and agricultural disruption

In response, the Government of Japan has pledged $2 million to support WFP’s emergency food operations in Yemen, aiming to provide vegetable oil and other essentials to 700,000 people. 

WFP officials stressed the urgency of international support, stating, “We are facing unprecedented humanitarian needs in Yemen. Families are increasingly unable to feed themselves, while our funding capacity continues to shrink.”

Yemen joins Gaza and Sudan at the top of the global list of countries facing the most extreme hunger emergencies, underscoring the need for immediate and sustained international action.