UN Warns Yemen Crisis Deepens Amid Famine and Fighting

A girl and her brother walk home after attending classes at a UNICEF-supported educational tent. Millions of children in Yemen are out of school due to displacement and conflict-damaged schools. (file photo)

Yemen faces surging violence and hunger, threatening millions with starvation and risking destabilisation of neighbouring countries. The crisis, deeply linked to regional conflicts, is straining humanitarian efforts and heightening tensions across the Middle East.

UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg told the Security Council on Monday that Yemen’s turmoil cannot be seen in isolation.

“Yemen is both a mirror and a magnifier of the region’s volatility,” he said, noting that progress toward peace is hampered by regional rivalries, cross-border dynamics, and internal divisions.

Grundberg highlighted a dangerous rise in hostilities, noting repeated attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure. Military clashes in Al Dhale’, Ma’rib, and Ta’iz underscore the risk that miscalculations could trigger a return to full-scale conflict.

The Houthis, or Ansar Allah, have been fighting Yemeni government forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, for control of the country for over a decade.

He warned that Yemen’s conflict is worsening within an already volatile regional landscape.

“Against the backdrop of the war in Gaza, we are seeing an alarming intensification of hostilities between Ansar Allah and Israel,” he said, noting civilian casualties and infrastructure damage.

The humanitarian situation remains dire. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher told the Council that Yemen is the third most food-insecure country in the world, with 17 million people already struggling to eat and an additional one million expected to face extreme hunger before February next year.

“Seventy per cent of households do not have enough food to meet daily needs — the highest rate ever recorded,” he said.

Fletcher added that one in five households goes a full day without food, while two million women and girls have lost access to reproductive health services due to funding shortfalls.

Despite funding gaps and a challenging environment, humanitarian agencies continue delivering aid. In Hajjah, Amran, and Ma’rib, organisations provided food, water, health, and nutrition services to tens of thousands. More than 172,000 flood-affected people received non-food items, shelter, hygiene kits, and clean water.

However, hostilities, infrastructure damage, and detention of UN staff severely hamper operations. Twenty-two UN personnel have been arbitrarily detained by Ansar Allah; one staff member was released, but over 40 remain in detention, including a colleague who died in custody.

UN officials emphasised the urgent need for dialogue and adherence to international law. Grundberg urged Yemeni leaders to pursue a nationwide ceasefire, economic reforms, and inclusive political engagement.

Fletcher called for the immediate release of all detained aid workers and a secure operating environment, warning that funding cuts and conflict obstacles are costing lives.

“Detaining humanitarian staff does not help the people of Yemen. It does not feed the hungry, heal the sick, nor protect those displaced by floods or fighting,” he said.

“The people of Yemen, wherever they may live, must receive the humanitarian aid they need. They deserve a future of greater security, justice, and opportunity.”