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Yemen Faces New Famine Threat

Margaret Besheer

   NEW YORK - The United Nations warned Tuesday that its humanitarian
   operation in Yemen is vastly underfunded and "on the verge of
   collapse," as COVID-19 ramps up and millions of people face extreme
   hunger in a matter of weeks.

   "Without more funding, we should all expect large increases in hunger,
   malnutrition, cholera, COVID-19 -- and, above all, death," humanitarian
   chief Mark Lowcock told'¯a meeting of the U.N. Security Council. "We
   should expect many more people to die."

   The U.N. says war-torn Yemen is the world's worst humanitarian crisis
   and'¯$3.2 billion is required for the response this year. At a pledge
   conference in June, donors promised only $1.35 billion of the $2.4
   billion required for the most essential needs until the end of the
   year, leaving more than a billion dollar shortfall. This week, Lowcock
   injected $35 million from a U.N. emergency fund into the effort, but
   overall the world body received only $558 million from donors by late
   June, forcing it to make difficult choices.

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