Escalated food insecurity in November following a temporary decline in October
In November 2024, food insecurity increased compared to the previous month, with households experiencing inadequate food consumption score of 52% in Government of Yemen (GoY) controlled areas and 47% in SBA areas (46.9%), remaining consistently high throughout most months of the year (Figure 1). Notably, the month-on-month increase in inadequate food consumption in SBA areas was 7 percent, representing one of the highest deteriorations recorded in recent years; while GoY areas saw as monthly increase of about 3 percent. The situation is concerning, as significant proportion of households are facing severe food deprivation, with poor food consumption rates reaching 23 percent in SBA areas and 26 percent in GoY areas.
The rise in food insecurity in November stems primarily from economic and seasonal factors. The cost of minimum food baskets (MFB) has increased alongside the depreciation of the local currency, with real prices of MFB being higher in SBA areas compared to GoY areas. Vulnerable households continue to struggle to afford adequate nutritious diets on the backdrop of declining and insufficient incomes. November also marks the end of the harvest season, leading to a decline in demand for farm labour and a subsequent decrease in income demand. Labour wages in both GoY and SBA saw only minimal month-onmonth increases. While the favourable fishing season in November typically benefits coastal fishing communities in GoY areas, reports of employment loss and income decline have risen compared to the previous. Income loss was reported by 71 percent of households in SBA areas, compared to 60 percent in GoY areas. Similarly, employment loss was more pronounced in SBA areas, indicating greater constraints to access to income opportunities.
As the winter season progresses and the end of the major harvest season comes to an end, no significant improvement in food security is anticipated in the next two months. The situation is projected to worsen further as we move deeper into the lean season, unless targeted humanitarian assistance is scaled up in areas most at risk of high food insecurity.
Al Jawf, Al Hudaydah, Al Mahwit, Amran, Hajjah, Raymah and Taizz show higher prevalences of food insecurity across at least three out of five food insecurity outcome indicators. The rate of inadequate food consumption has considerably increased compared to last month and 12-month average in Abyan, Al Bayda, Al Dhale'e, Al Hudaydah, Al Jawf, Amran, Dhamar, Hajjah, Ibb, Lahj, Raymah, Sa'ada, Shabwah and Taizz (Figure 2). When compared to the same month last year, inadequate food consumption has worsened in Abyan (38%), Al Jawf (15%), Lahj (18%), Sa'ada (13%), Al Maharah (12%) and Ibb (11%).
In response to rising food insecurity, the use of crisis and emergency livelihood coping strategies has also increased compared to the previous month and same period last year. There was approximately a 6 percent month-on-month increase in SBA areas and an estimated 3 percent increase in GoY areas. The proportion of households employing food-based coping strategies rose at the same rate in both GoY and SBA areas. However, when compared to November last year, the use of food-based coping strategies increased in SBA areas, while it decreased in GoY areas (Figure 3 and 4).