Acute malnutrition in areas controlled by Yemeni gov't increases by 34% in 2024: UN

By Mohammed Sameai

SANAA, Yemen (AA) - Four UN agencies announced on Sunday that acute malnutrition in areas controlled by the Yemeni government has increased by 34% in 2024 compared to the previous year.

A joint report issued by UNICEF, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted that malnutrition levels in Yemen’s western coast have reached "extremely critical" levels for the first time.

The number of children under five suffering from acute malnutrition or wasting has risen by 34%, affecting over 600,000 children, including 120,000 with severe acute malnutrition.

“The sharp rise is driven by the compounded effect of disease outbreaks (cholera and measles), high food insecurity, limited access to safe drinking water, and economic decline,” said the report, noting that: “In the same catchment area, around 223,000 pregnant and lactating women were found to be acutely malnourished in 2024.”

The four UN agencies called for “urgent and sustained international support and immediate action to address the root causes of acute malnutrition, by strengthening existing social protection, health, food and water, sanitation, and hygiene systems.”

“At the same time, an end to the nearly decade-long conflict and the restoration of peace is critical to address the challenges and build the resilience of Yemeni people devastated by the lack of basic services, repeated displacements, and shattered economic and social systems,” it added.

Yemen has seen relative calm since April 2022 in a conflict that began nearly a decade ago between forces loyal to the legitimate government and the Houthi group, which has controlled various provinces and cities, including the capital Sanaa, since 2014.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi