The sharp increase is being driven by diseases such as cholera and malaria, high food insecurity and limited access to safe drinking water and other essential services, according to the analysis by the Technical Working Group of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).
Yemen has been mired in conflict and economic collapse for nearly a decade. As government forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, and Houthi rebels continue to fight, more than 18 million people — more than half the population — need humanitarian aid to survive.
Little children going hungry
The report covers the period from November 2023 to October 2024.
The number of children under five in government-controlled areas suffering from acute malnutrition was found to have increased by 34 percent compared to last year.
In total, some 600,000 children are affected, including 120,000 who are severely malnourished. In addition, some 223,000 pregnant and lactating women in these areas have been found to be suffering from acute malnutrition.
For the first time, the most severe level of malnutrition – extremely critical acute malnutrition – was reported in two districts in the southern lowlands of Hudaydah Governorate (Al Khawkhah and Hays) and another in Taiz (Al Makha).
The report noted that the Mawza district in the Taiz lowlands is also projected to fall to the extremely critical level.
“These districts require immediate intervention to prevent increased morbidity and possible mortality among children under five years of age,” the experts said.
Fears of lean season
Hudaydah and Taiz already faced the highest rate of stunting, or chronic malnutrition, the report noted, indicating that repeated deprivations are also worsening chronic malnutrition among children there.
In addition, the prevalence of acute malnutrition in Hudaydah increased from 25.9 percent to 33.9 percent in the same period last year.
The report predicts that all 117 districts in the government-controlled areas studied, all located in the south, will experience “severe” levels of malnutrition or worse during the lean season from July to October.
Investment and support
“To protect the most vulnerable women, girls and children, it is more important than ever to invest in and scale up prevention and treatment measures,” said Peter Hawkins, UNICEF Representative in Yemen.
UNICEF, together with other UN agencies such as the World Food Programme (WFP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), are calling for urgent support and action to address the root causes of acute malnutrition in Yemen by strengthening existing social protection, health, food and water, sanitation and hygiene systems.
At the same time, they stressed that ending the nearly decade-long conflict and restoring peace are key to addressing the challenges and strengthening the resilience of the people of Yemen, who have been devastated by a lack of basic services, repeated displacement and shattered economic and social systems.
'A wake-up call'
Dr Hussein Gadain, FAO Representative in Yemen, reaffirmed the commitment to support “the sustainable restoration and diversification of agricultural livelihoods to help address urgent needs.”
Meanwhile, WFP is forced to provide smaller rations in Yemen, and the report's findings “should be a wake-up call that lives are at stake,” said Pierre Honnorat, WFP Representative and Country Director.
“It is essential to step up support for the most vulnerable, who could sink further into food insecurity and malnutrition if current low levels of humanitarian funding persist,” he added.
Dr Arturo Pesigan, WHO Representative in Yemen, said the rising level of acute malnutrition among Yemen's under-fives also indicates that disease is a cause for concern.
She stressed that addressing health and nutrition emergencies requires “integrated health and nutrition services, including management of childhood diseases,” in addition to ensuring up-to-date immunization and appropriate feeding practices.
“This is in addition to the need to ensure access to sufficient nutritious food and clean water,” he said. “Humanitarian actors and the international community must take immediate action to safeguard the future of Yemeni children.”
