HIGHLIGHTS

• 17 million people are food insecure, a staggering seven million of whom are at risk of famine.
• Acute food insecurity is expected to deteriorate further without continued, scaled up emergency food and livelihood assistance programmes. Air, sea, land blockade further exacerbating the availability and prices of fuel and basic food commodities.
• Domestic food prices are high, volatile and exacerbated by conflict and dwindling economic situation in the country. Prices of imported commodities have increased by 77 percent for diesel, 83 percent for petrol, 34 percent for wheat, 39 percent for wheat flour, 99 percent for rice, 59 percent for cooking oil and 46 percent for sugar, compared to the pre-crisis.
• Water scarcity remains one of the main challenges in the agriculture sector. The unavailability of water for agricultural practices is the most limiting factor for food security. The rainy season has been delayed and downfall so far has been less than expected. Furthermore, high fuel costs have sharply increases water transportation costs for most farmers, hampering the agriculture even more.
• Fishing in coastal areas of Hajjah, Taiz and southern Hodeida governorate has stopped due to destruction of the assets and landing sites, restricted access and the blockade of land, air and marine ports for fish exports and other socio-economic challenges.
• The animal production, including poultry sector, is under huge stress. Scarcity and soaring fuel and agriculture input prices forced farmers to abandon their production, resulting in the loss of livelihoods. Lack of veterinary drugs and vaccines for cattle and small ruminants will likely further result in the spread of endemic diseases such as PPR, sheep and goat pox, FMD.