Governmental, International Strategies to Address Food Insecurity in Yemen

Arab World

February 10th, 9:01am

Aden - Waddah Aljaleel

UN aid distributed to Yemeni displaced citizens in Hajjah (AFP)

The Yemeni government, in cooperation with international organizations, is seeking to build alliances and strategies to confront the growing threat of food insecurity in the country. The authorities began discussions on the "Livelihoods and Improving Resilience in Rural Areas" program, adopted by the UN Development Program (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the European Union, and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA). The program targets nearly one million Yemeni citizens in the agricultural sector in seven governorates. The Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Waed Bathib, said the program represents a distinguished model for three-dimensional projects that combine humanitarian support and development work. Bathib also noted that it contributes to developing livelihoods and providing job opportunities for farmers, raising the productivity of the agricultural sector, and empowering youth and women. It supports sustainable development, especially in the agricultural sector, food security, and value chains, and responds to limiting the repercussions of crises in the farming industry, climate changes, and resisting economic shocks. The World Food Program recently stated that food insecurity in Yemen still exists despite the increase in fuel and food imports to Hodeidah ports over the past year, hinting at the failure of the Houthi militia to fulfill its obligations to pay public servants' wages per the UN armistice. The report warned that food insecurity is concerning nationwide, and adequate food consumption remained beyond reach for 53 percent of the surveyed families under government control, compared to 47 percent under Houthi control. In cooperation with the UN and its affiliated organizations, the government is trying to boost efforts to confront the growing food crisis and the economic situation. Meanwhile, the Minister of Local Administration for Relief Affairs, General Coordinator of the Higher Committee for Relief, Jamal Balfakih, stated that the Yemeni government is seeking to mobilize efforts with donor countries to increase support for the response plan. Balfakih told Asharq Al-Awsat that the steadfastness of Yemeni society depends on the continuous support of the coalition supporting legitimacy led by Saudi Arabia. He explained that the war and Chapter VII of the UN Charter made it dependent on humanitarian aid. The official noted that the long war led to the most significant internal displacement in Yemen and resulted in a major demographic change and pressure on services in the host provinces. A source at the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation told Asharq Al-Awsat that the government and the special committee for improvement are in permanent session. He indicated that they are exerting efforts to assess the situation of food security in Yemen, set the requirements to face food shortage, find appropriate solutions and remedies, and create networks to support the plans and projects agreed upon with the UN and its bodies. The source, who asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the media, added that the government also began implementing the policy of exempting basic materials from customs duties and taxes. Furthermore, the Professor of Economics at Taiz University, Mohammad Qahtan, believes that there is an urgent need to reform the salary and wages system or take effective financial and monetary policies to restore the Yemeni riyal's value against the dollar. Qahtan told Asharq Al-Awsat that although public servants in the liberated areas receive their salaries regularly, the wages have lost over 80 percent of their value following the drop in the exchange rate. He explained that the deterioration of living conditions is due to the division between the Central Bank of Yemen and the banking system between Sanaa and Aden and the subsequent differences in the purchasing value of the local currency in its old and new editions. The expert warned that this led to a massive rise in unemployment and poverty rates throughout Yemen and major collapses in various fields.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/4149776/governmental-international-strategies-address-food-insecurity-yemen