Washington DC, 13 August 2022 (TDI): According to the United Nations (UN) World Food Programme’s (WFP) latest report on the food and debt crisis, Yemen’s food insecure figures have risen to 17.4 Million.
Food-import bills are surging fastest for poor countries that are already in debt distress or at high risk of it.
The danger of an overlapping food and debt crisis is greatest for 7 countries in particular—those at high risk of debt distress like #Yemen: https://t.co/rOWVFxLDeO— World Bank MENA (@WorldBankMENA) August 11, 2022
In accordance with the world food import bills, a drop is witnessed in FY22 of 0.73% from 0.27% last year in the same phase.
According to the figures, 1/3rd of wheat is imported by Yemen and the other Middle East states from Russia and Ukraine. Both the countries are the chief suppliers of wheat.
However, due to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, Ukrainian wheat had been banned at ports in the Black Sea, before a joint decision to allow its passage.
Consequently, a worldwide food catastrophe is envisaged. Yemen, comprising 17.4 Million food insecure majority is expected to exceed up to 19 Million by the end of 2022.
World Bank Relief
A dual food and debt crisis is one of the worst possible consequences for Yemen. Because of this, WFP and World Bank have taken a responsibility to take immediate and decisive action to prevent it.
WFP has proposed extra major cuts to essential food aid levels in Yemen due to insufficient funding, with all clients now set to earn 50% rations in the upcoming months.
Although the intensity of warfare has recently decreased, Yemen’s income-generating prospects are still very restricted, and household total wealth is steadily declining as the cost of food and other critical goods continues to climb.
The most susceptible areas are found in Hajjah and Al Hudaydah, where intense malnutrition and food scarcity are both at exceptionally substantial levels.
Along these lines, up to $30 Bn will be made accessible by the World Bank Group to increase the food supply in developing nations. Additionally, the G7 members have committed $4.5 billion to the same cause.
Investing in school meals is an investment in the future!
Thanks to @WorldBank, @AlbankAldawli, @GermanyDiplo, and @francediplo_EN for supporting the @WFP school feeding programme in #Yemen.
— WFP Yemen (@WFPYemen) August 10, 2022
Almost 13 Mn people are expected to receive emergency food assistance from WFP in the form of rations of wheat, beans, oil, sugar, and salt, or vouchers or cash to buy the equivalent amount of food.
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