Local Editor

More than 6 million people are on the verge of starvation in Yemen, the Oxfam International organization warned on Tuesday, saying also that four months of war and a blockade on imports were pushing an additional 25,000 people into hunger every day, according to the agency’s press release on Tuesday.

"One in two people - nearly 13 million people - are now struggling to find enough to eat, and half of them are on the brink of starvation", the aid agency said.

"Since the start of the conflict, nearly 25,000 additional people are going hungry each day in Yemen as the blockade and fighting restrict food, fuel and other vital supplies", it warned.

The number of hungry people had risen by 2.3 million to 12.9 million since March, Oxfam said, when a Saudi-led coalition began bombarding in Yemen and imposed a blockade on the impoverished country.

"In a country that has historically faced food shortages, this is the highest ever recorded number of people living in hunger," it said. 

It said that the blockade had exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, which imports up to 90 percent of its food and the majority of its fuel.

Philippe Clerc, Oxfam Country Director in Yemen said: "Since the start of the conflict every day that goes by without a ceasefire and full resumption of imports sees nearly 25,000 additional people going hungry in Yemen". 

He added that as calls continue to be ignored for a ceasefire, "the average family in Yemen is left wondering when their next meal will be - if they survive the bombs, they’re now running out of food. "

"Saada governorate in the north is the most affected in the country: nearly 80 percent of its people are going hungry, 50 percent at a critical level", Oxfam said. 

"The scarcity of food is pushing prices beyond the reach of millions - many have been without income for months now. Data collected through Oxfam assessments in Hajjah governorate show that families displaced by the conflict have few possessions, mainly livestock that they are forced to sell at prices well below the market value to buy food and other basic needs. This is a tell-tale sign that people are starting to face a serious food crisis", it further said.

"Availability of food in the south-western governorates is alarmingly low, in particular, Aden, Abyan, Ad-daleh, Lahj, and Shabwa, based on the World Food Programme’s weekly market monitoring reports. This is largely due to the difficulties of moving food supplies through conflict areas", it further added. 

"Since March, only 20 percent of domestic food needs have entered the country and an additional 650,000 children, pregnant and lactating mothers have become malnourished bringing the number up to a staggering 1.5 million", said Oxfam. 

Meanwhile, Clerc said: "Should the world continue to turn a blind eye to the suffering of over 21 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, it is tantamount to complicity in their suffering".