Yemen is bracing for a severe food crisis, potentially the worst since 2022, with over half of its population, approximately 18 million people, projected to experience heightened levels of hunger in early 2026, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) warned. The IRC's statement followed the release of new projections on Monday under the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification hunger-monitoring system, which indicated an additional one million people are at risk of facing life-threatening hunger.

The impending crisis is exacerbated by the ongoing internal conflict in Yemen, which involves external regional actors engaged in fighting in the southern regions of the country. This conflict disrupts supply chains, limits access to essential goods and services, and further destabilizes an already fragile economy.

"The situation in Yemen is deteriorating rapidly," stated an IRC spokesperson. "The combination of conflict, economic collapse, and reduced humanitarian access is pushing millions of Yemenis to the brink of starvation."

Yemen, historically one of the world's most impoverished nations, has been embroiled in conflict for years, stemming from the Houthi insurgency that began in 2014. The conflict escalated in 2015 when a Saudi-led coalition intervened in support of the Yemeni government. This intervention transformed the internal conflict into a proxy war with significant regional implications. The ongoing hostilities have devastated the country's infrastructure, crippled its economy, and displaced millions of people.

The United Nations has repeatedly warned of the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen, describing it as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. International aid organizations have struggled to deliver assistance due to security concerns, bureaucratic impediments, and funding shortfalls. The IRC and other aid groups are calling for increased international support to address the growing food crisis and to help alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people. The projections also forecast potential long-term consequences if the conflict continues unabated and humanitarian assistance is not significantly increased.