The escalation of the Red Sea crisis is poised to accelerate the increase in shipping costs, delay the delivery of essential food, or lead to a complete suspension of trade routes and closure of Yemeni ports, a new report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) finds.
This will drive a further rise in food insecurity in Yemen, largely affecting the most vulnerable populations, including the poor and internally displaced, who will struggle to afford essential food items.
According to the Potential Impacts of Red Sea Crisis Escalation on Food Insecurity in Yemen report, the food security situation in Yemen is already fragile, and further shocks emanating from the Red Sea crisis will cause additional harm to an already dire situation that can be described as one of the worst humanitarian emergencies in the world.
The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis reveals that almost 5 million people or 45 percent of the population analyzed in the Government of Yemen’s controlled areas are estimated to be in Crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3 and above).
Yemen relies heavily on imports for the food requirements of its population, with around 90 percent of its needs in staple cereals imported. According to the FAO report, if the current escalation is sustained for the next three months, imports will most likely slow down, affecting food availability and prices in the domestic markets.
While commenting on the key findings of the report, the FAO Representative in Yemen, Hussein Gadain, urged the international community to address the possible deterioration of the already severe humanitarian crisis in Yemen. He emphasized that the Red Sea conflict has erupted at a time when the focus on Yemen is receding as humanitarian actors shift their attention and resources to other global hotspots, including Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan.
“We cannot afford to wait until the humanitarian emergency worsens even further. This is the time to coordinate efforts and de-escalate the Red Sea crisis,” Gadain said. “We should facilitate an uninterrupted flow of commercial and essential humanitarian food supplies. This crisis, if not attended to, threatens to reverse the gains we have made in restoring the livelihoods of Yemenis since the start of the conflict eight years ago.”
The report warned that a further escalation of the crisis will also disrupt livelihoods and certain value chains. Fishermen, for example, may abandon their activities due to increased insecurity at sea and at landing sites, which would not only impact their income opportunities and livelihoods but also affect the availability of fish – an important source of protein – in the market.
Additionally, increased military activities in the Red Sea may lead to the destruction of critical infrastructure, including ports and storage facilities, further hampering the efficient distribution and storage of food in the country and aggravating food insecurity.