"UN: Malnutrition in Yemen's government areas worsens, agency reports"

The United Nations has reported a worsening malnutrition crisis in Yemen's government-controlled regions, signaling a deepening humanitarian emergency. The situation highlights the critical need for increased aid and intervention to address the growing hunger and health challenges faced by the population in these areas. Immediate action is required to prevent further deterioration of living conditions in the affected regions.

Acute malnutrition is rapidly worsening in Yemen's government-controlled areas, with the most critical cases along the Red Sea coast, according to a report issued on Sunday by U.N. food security experts.

The prolonged conflict between the Saudi-backed government and the Iran-aligned Houthi militia, which has been at a stalemate for years, has led to the economic collapse of Yemen, one of the most impoverished countries on the Arabian Peninsula, and triggered one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

In the report, the U.N.'s Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Technical Group in Yemen stated that malnutrition has intensified due to the combined effects of diseases like cholera and measles, a lack of nutritious food, inadequate drinking water, and overall economic decline.

The number of children under five suffering from acute malnutrition, or wasting, has increased by 34% compared to the previous year in government-controlled areas, the report noted. This equates to approximately 600,000 children, including 120,000 who are severely malnourished.

For the first time, the report indicated that "extremely critical" levels of acute malnutrition were recorded in the southern Hodeidah lowlands, particularly in the Al Khawkhah and Hays districts near Yemen's Red Sea coast, as well as in the Al Makha district of the Taiz lowlands, between November 2023 and June 2024.

The report did not mention whether there had been recent deaths from severe hunger or describe the situation in Houthi-controlled areas of the country.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tel Aviv on Sunday, with the visit aimed at intensifying diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and halt the violence between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Houthi forces currently control most large urban centers in Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa, while the Saudi-backed government operates out of Aden in the south.

The Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 after the Houthis ousted the government from Sanaa. The Houthis claim they are fighting against a corrupt system and foreign aggression.

This complex conflict, involving multiple factions competing for power, has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people.

Source: Reuters‍