In a joint statement issued Monday, 47 international humanitarian and development organizations have sounded the alarm over a worsening hunger crisis in Yemen, warning that millions of lives are at imminent risk if urgent action is not taken
As world leaders gather in New York for the 80th UN General Assembly, the undersigned humanitarian organizations working in Yemen, urge urgent and decisive action to address the worsening crisis in Yemen threatening to push millions of families past the brink of catastrophe. Yemen’s crisis has stripped people down to the most basic of needs – making every day a struggle for survival..
The coalition, which includes leading agencies such as the World Food Programme (WFP), Oxfam, Save the Children, and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), described the situation as “catastrophic and escalating,” citing severe funding shortfalls, restricted humanitarian access, and the collapse of essential services.
“Yemen is on the brink of a famine that could rival the worst humanitarian disasters of our time,” the statement read.
“Without immediate international intervention, millions — especially children — will face starvation.”
According to the organizations, over 18 million Yemenis are currently food insecure, with more than 7 million suffering from acute malnutrition.
The crisis is particularly dire in conflict-affected governorates such as Hajjah, Al-Hudaydah, Taiz, and Sa’ada, where aid deliveries have been repeatedly obstructed.
The warning comes amid renewed fighting in several regions and a sharp decline in donor funding, which has forced many relief programs to scale back or shut down entirely. The agencies called on governments, donors, and international institutions to urgently increase support and pressure all parties to allow unhindered humanitarian access.
This collective appeal marks one of the strongest unified warnings issued this year, underscoring the gravity of Yemen’s humanitarian emergency and the need for swift, coordinated global response.