The UN World Food Program has confirmed continuation of its activities across the country despite clashes between rival factions, president resignation and demands in the south for secession.
"In these difficult times, the role of the program becomes more important in Yemen," said WFP's Country Director Purnima Kashyap in a statement carried by Yemen (Saba) news agency.
She added until before this crisis, more than 40% of Yemenis have been suffering from lack of food security "five million of them strongly suffer lack of food security." "We are very concerned how people are managing to cope with the latest upheaval. They are likely to be eating and not as frequently, which can only lead to increase food insecurity and greater likelihood of malnutrition," Kashyap added.
WFP's operations in Yemen include providing food assistances to hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people in conflict- affected areas, safety- net and livelihood support- through food-or cash-for work- for vulnerable families in rural areas as well as prevention and treatment of malnutrition among pregnant and breastfeeding women and young children.
The regional director appealed to donors to continue their support to the WFP in Yemen and called on neighboring countries to provide funding "in the interests of regional stability."