14 million people in Yemen face 'imminent and great big famine'

[Samira]

Back to business as usual

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. humanitarian chief warned Tuesday that "there is a clear and present danger of an imminent and great big famine engulfing Yemen."

Mark Lowcock told the Security Council that this famine would be "much bigger than anything any professional in this field has seen during their working lives."

He said "the situation is now much graver" than when he warned of famine in Yemen at the beginning of 2017 and again last November. That is because "of the sheer number of people at risk," he said.

Lowcock said the U.N. now thinks last month's estimate that 11 million people could soon face "pre-famine conditions" and need aid to survive was wrong, and the number is actually 14 million — half of Yemen's population.

The conflict in Yemen, the Arab world's poorest country, began with the 2014 takeover of the capital, Sanaa, by Houthi Shiite rebels, who toppled the internationally recognized government. A Saudi-led coalition allied with the government has been fighting the Houthis since 2015.

Civilians have borne the brunt of the conflict, which has killed over 10,000 people and sparked the world's worst humanitarian crisis and a cholera epidemic.

At the beginning of 2017, the United Nations and its partners were able to provide aid to 3 million hungry Yemenis. Since then, assistance has been scaled up, reaching 8 million people in September because of generous funding from donors, Lowcock said, but far below the 14 million people who may need it.

Lowcock said three conditions are required for famine to be declared: At least one in five households faces an extreme lack of food, more than 30 percent of children under age 5 are suffering from acute malnutrition, and at least two out of every 10,000 people are dying every day

 

[Samira]

 

[Bentley]

It's kinda scary how quiet the media is about this.

 

[Gooney112]

money talks and people are not equal. Its messed up....but the saudis get extremely little criticism what they are doing in Yemen. They understand how to buy media and politicians. But it also says so much about how pathetic the saudis are as they cant defeat a tiny country like yemen

 

[National Warrior]

It's kinda scary how quiet the media is about this.

They were quiet during the Xabashi invasion of 2007 as well. I feel nothing for Yemens but it's still not right how little media attention is given to "lesser" races.

 

[mustang22]

Evil Saudi Arabia are murdering women and children in Yemen on a daily basis. Hopefully the Houthis win.