Sound the alarm on hunger in Yemen

This week I have an article on the History News Network about "sounding the alarm" on global hunger. One of the biggest threats unfolding right now is in Yemen where low funding for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is forcing ration cuts. People living in camps, displaced by the conflict in the North between the government and rebels, may lose their rations completely if new funding is not found.

This is a humanitarian disaster, but also one that threatens America's own national security. Late last year the Senate passed Resolution 341 "supporting peace, security, and innocent civilians affected by conflict in Yemen."

Senator Benjamin Cardin (MD), who introduced the resolution, stated, "The Senate has united to express our concern over the prospects of Yemen becoming a failed state. It’s urgent that the United States and international community use all appropriate measures to help the people of Yemen address the severe security threats and the humanitarian crisis in their country.

The U.S. military recently sent 150 million in aid to help Yemen fight the Al Qaida threat within its borders. However, the most powerful threat to the whole country is that of hunger.

A recent ceasefire in the north has not reduced the need for food for displaced Yemenis. Any peace settlement that emerges will have to be reinforced with food. Across the entire country, food is the desperately-needed foundation for millions of people.

The U.S. should lead in rallying the international community to help Yemen fight the powerful foe of hunger. Yesterday I received a message from Maria Santamarina of the World Food Programme in Yemen. She writes,

"7.2 million Yemenis are in a total poverty trap. Poverty, food insecurity, maternal malnutrition, limited education, high gender disparities, rapid population growth, and insufficient access to safe water and to land are leaving too many Yemeni families on their knees and further perpetuating the cycle of malnutrition. In the current situation where families are trapped in extreme vulnerability, any new shock no matter how minor will easily push them over the edge."

The funding cuts for the World Food Programme have had a devastating effect on key food programs. Recently I have written about a school feeding program in Yemen that was cut last June. This program benefited nearly 115,000 girls with take-home rations to fight hunger and boost attendance.

There may be one limited distribution of school feeding in April, but then food stocks will be completely gone. Why is there not full support for this program that can help lift entire families out of poverty? Other victims of the budget cuts include:

Monthly nutrition support to 24,130 malnourished mothers, children,   TB/leprosy, and HIV/AIDS patients cancelled

Overall, nearly 1 million rural, poor, food insecure, and malnourished Yemenis will be denied a vital safety net in 2010 (900,000 in 2009)  

The road to peace in Yemen will go nowhere without food. No country can rest without this basic necessity as a foundation. The U.S. and its partners cannot forget the hungry in building a peace strategy in Yemen.

How you can help: Write to your leaders in government about the hunger crisis in Yemen. Here is an audio clip from Josette Sheeran, the director of the World Food Programme, about taking this action.





Related articles

Interview with Jennifer Mizgata of the UN World Food Programme on hunger in Yemen

U.S. policy toward Yemen missing key component: food

150 million in military aid for Yemen but no funding to fight hunger

How you can help end hunger and build peace in Yemen

Hunger the worst enemy of peace in Yemen