WFP to double food aid to Yemen, says 14 million risk starvation

GENEVA (Reuters) - The World Food Programme plans to double its food assistance programme for Yemen, aiming to reach up to 14 million people “to avert mass starvation”, it said in a statement on Thursday.

FILE PHOTO: A malnourished boy lies on a weighing scale at the malnutrition ward of al-Sabeen hospital in Sanaa, Yemen September 11, 2018. REUTERS/Khaled Abdullah/File Photo

“Yemen is the largest hunger crisis in the world. Millions of people are living on the edge of famine and the situation is getting worse by the day,” said the U.N. agency, which is already providing food assistance to 7-8 million Yemenis.

“WFP food and other humanitarian support has been instrumental in helping to prevent famine, but the indications are that even greater efforts will be needed to avert mass starvation.”

Food security experts including U.N. and Yemeni government officials conducted an assessment in Yemen last month and are expected to issue their report this month, declaring whether or not parts of the country are in famine.

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https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-yemen-security-food/wfp-to-double-food-aid-to-yemen-says-14-million-risk-starvation-idUKKBN1ND2CM