WFP Yemen Food Security Update, January 2025

Key highlights

• The food insecurity situation in Yemen remains consistently at alarming levels, where 64 percent of surveyed households were unable to obtain their minimum food needs in December 2024. Households in IRG areas exhibited relatively higher prevalence of inadequate food consumption (67 percent) compared to SBA areas (63 percent). Key drivers include macroeconomic upheavals, humanitarian assistance gaps particularly the pause of food assistance across most districts in SBA areas, and the limited livelihood opportunities. Localized conflict during Q4-2024 also contributed to a further deterioration in the food security situation, particularly in frontline districts of Ta’iz, Ad Dali’, and Abyan governorates.
• Severe levels of food deprivation (poor food consumption) reached 38 percent by the end of the year (40 percent in IRG areas and 37 percent in SBA areas). All governorates in Yemen exceeded the “very high” threshold of ≥20 percent for poor food consumption in December, except for Sana’a City Governorate.
• To meet food shortages in December, 52 percent households in SBA areas and 44 percent in IRG areas adopted severe food-based coping strategies (rCSI >= 19). Nationally, common practices included reducing meal sizes (72 percent) and consuming less preferred foods (66 percent). Severe livelihood challenges were evident, with strategies such as begging and selling home becoming prevalent.
• Internally displaced persons (IDPs) were particularly affected, as 70 percent of IDP households struggled to access their minimum food needs, and severe food deprivation increased to 42 percent by the end of 2024.IDPs in camp exhibited a higher prevalence of poor food consumption (49 percent) compared to IDPs living in host communities (39 percent).
• In SBA areas, WFP has scaled up its Targeted Emergency Food Assistance (TEFA) programme from 1.4 million people to 2.8 million people in 70 districts as of the second TEFA cycle, which started in mid-January 2025. The resumption of regular food assistance in SBA areas contributed to a notable improvement in households food consumption and copping levels as observed in September and November.
• In IRG areas, the Yemeni Riyal depreciated by 26 percent during 2024 and lost 71 percent of its value against the US dollar over the past five years. This depreciation has primarily driven fuel prices to unprecedented levels and caused the cost of the minimum food basket (MFB) to rise by 21 percent between January-December 2024.
• Fuel imports through all Yemeni seaports in 2024 remained at a similar level to that recorded in 2023, while food imports increased by 10 percent compared to the previous year. The ban on wheat flour imports through Al Hodeidah port, implemented in early 2025, is unlikely to cause significant price changes in the north as long as grain and fuel supply is uninterrupted.