Asharq Al-Awsat
·Jul 2026
Hunger Worsens in Yemen’s Houthi-Controlled Areas, Ports Lose $1.4 Billion
Household food consumption in Yemen deteriorated for a second consecutive month, with 62 percent of families struggling to meet basic needs and severe food deprivation rising to 36 percent in May 2026. Houthi-controlled areas face worsening economic pressures including depleted currency reserves, heightened taxation, and declining port revenues, with Red Sea port degradation contributing to $1.4 billion in losses. Fuel shortages intensified after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and fuel imports dropped sharply across both Houthi and government areas. Humanitarian assistance reductions accelerated food insecurity, especially in Houthi regions where deprivation nearly doubled. In government-held areas, WFP’s targeted assistance program reduced severe food deprivation among beneficiaries and improved dietary diversity, though broader recovery interventions remain necessary to sustain gains.