While anti-government protests continue in the streets of Yemen’s capital Sana’a and hope for change fills the hearts of the people, their stomachs are often left empty. With record global food price increases in February, and decreasing oil production and revenue in Yemen, its population has been thrown into a new cycle of food insecurity and poverty, which experts warn, might lead to dire consequences, if it continues for a long time.
Even before the uprisings, Yemen, a country of 24 million people, had the highest poverty rate in the Middle East and North Africa, and is among the 10 most food-insecure countries in the world, according to the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Given that Yemen imports between 70 and 90 percent of its food, mostly cereals, it is highly vulnerable to global food prices fluctuations.
Since the anti-government protests began back in early February, prices, which had been rising for two years already, have continued to escalate. Most basic food items such as rice, canned food, flour, sugar, oils, and meat have risen by up to 10 percent.
In March, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) food price index registered an overall decline of 2.9 percent from its peak in February. In spite of that, prices in Yemen have continued to rise.
“It was bad before, but it is worse now. People just do not have money to buy food,” said Clemens Breisinger, expert of IFPRI in Washington.
About 80 percent of the population can afford only one meal per day, which typically costs around 350 Yemeni rial (about US$1.60), according Dr. Fuad Aldomy, FAO representative in Yemen.
Even before the uprisings, Yemen, a country of 24 million people, had the highest poverty rate in the Middle East and North Africa, and is among the 10 most food-insecure countries in the world, according to the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Given that Yemen imports between 70 and 90 percent of its food, mostly cereals, it is highly vulnerable to global food prices fluctuations.
Since the anti-government protests began back in early February, prices, which had been rising for two years already, have continued to escalate. Most basic food items such as rice, canned food, flour, sugar, oils, and meat have risen by up to 10 percent.
In March, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) food price index registered an overall decline of 2.9 percent from its peak in February. In spite of that, prices in Yemen have continued to rise.
“It was bad before, but it is worse now. People just do not have money to buy food,” said Clemens Breisinger, expert of IFPRI in Washington.
About 80 percent of the population can afford only one meal per day, which typically costs around 350 Yemeni rial (about US$1.60), according Dr. Fuad Aldomy, FAO representative in Yemen.
