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Food insecurity in January 2025 remained largely stable compared to December
In January 2025, food insecurity remained alarmingly high in both Government of Yemen (GoY) and Sana’a Based Authority (SBA) controlled areas, with inadequate food consumption scores of 53% and 44%, respectively. This reflects a minimal increase of about 1% compared to December 2024 levels (Figure 1 in the PDF). Among the food insecure population, approximately 20% experienced severe food deprivation, measured by poor food consumption score, with 24 percent in GoY areas, which is a 2% increase from the previous month. In SBA areas, severe food deprivation remained steady at 19%.
January marks a period of limited agricultural income and the beginning of household stock depletion. Consequently, the proportion of households impacted by income and food consumption shocks increased by 4% over the past one month. In SBA areas, major shocks included loss of income and employment (24%) and household members sickness (30%) while in GoY areas, the main shocks were high food prices (24%), household member (20%) and loss of income and employment (14%). Nonetheless, the residual positive effect of the last quarter of 2024 harvests, the peak fishing season favoring coastal households, and relative stability in food prices (in SBA areas) helped mitigate the impacts of the lean season and economic shocks. In SBA areas, the increased use of livelihood coping strategies, such as borrowing money and purchasing food on credit, also helped stabilize food insecurity.
Food insecurity is projected to likely worsen in February, coinciding with the peak of the lean season and worsening economic crisis marked by depreciating local currency and increasing food prices in GoY areas. Moreover, the suspension of USAID BHA funds for some aid organizations is likely to impact the delivery humanitarian assistance in Yemen, potentially escalating food insecurity in the coming months. However, the start of the Ramadhan festivities in March may provide some stabilization. It is recommended to scale up targeted humanitarian and livelihood assistance in areas and for groups most at risk of extreme hunger.