UN human rights expert warns against deliberate starvation of civilians in Yemen

Yemen is now in the midst of a major food crisis as the conflict in the country continues, Hilal Elver, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food, warned here on Tuesday.

According to the UN human rights expert, sieges in a number of governorates, including Aden, AL Dhali, Lahj and Taiz have been preventing staple food items, such as wheat, from reaching the civilian population, while airstrikes have reportedly targeted local markets and trucks laden with food items.

"The deliberate starvation of civilians in both international and internal armed conflict may constitute a war crime, and could also constitute a crime against humanity in the event of deliberate denial of food and also the deprivation of food sources or supplies," she warned.

According to her, Yemen relies on imports for 80 per cent of its food intake and the current clashes have resulted in steep price hikes, which, combined with increases in the price of diesel by some 47 per cent, are having a devastating impact on the country's food security.

"As the conflict continues to escalate, over 12.9 million people in Yemen are now surviving without adequate access to basic food supplies, including six million who are deemed severely food insecure," Elver said.

"The situation facing children in the country is particularly alarming, with reports suggesting that 850,000 Yemeni children face acute malnutrition, a figure that is expected to rise to 1.2 million over the coming weeks, if the conflict persists as its present level," she stressed.