WFP: 66% of households in Yemen were unable to obtain their minimum food needs in May

World Food Programme (WFP) latest data show that 66 percent of households in Yemen were unable to obtain their minimum food needs in May. This is, for the second consecutive month, the highest level of inadequate food consumption ever measured by WFP in Yemen.

A recent report issued by WFP showed that the prevalence of severe food deprivation (poor food consumption) rose to 39 percent in May. All governorates of Yemen exceeded the “very high” threshold (≥20 percent) for poor food consumption, with peaks recorded in Ad Dali', Al Jawf, Amran, Lahj, and Hajjah governorates.

Key drivers of food insecurity in Yemen, according to WFP report,  include worsening economic challenges, substantial reductions in humanitarian assistance gaps caused by funding shortages, limited livelihood activities, localized conflict, and the delayed and insufficient rainfall.

WFP assisted an estimated 1.2 million people across its activities in Yemen in June.1,2 in areas under the internationally recognized Government of Yemen (IRG).

In areas under the Houthi rebels WFP is preparing to complete the second cycle of the targeted emergency food assistance (TEFA) programme, which was suspended in April 2025. Distributions are planned to start in late July to 803,000 people across 25 districts.

WFP report added that Severe funding reductions have hampered it’s ability to sustain food assistance at adequate levels considering the rapidly deteriorating food security situation in Yemen, and that is conducting a beneficiary re-targeting and registration exercise.