UN: Yemen on the brink of worst famine in decades

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is urging members of the body to step up in assisting Yemen as sanctions and war thrust the country close to a catastrophic famine.

A man carries humanitarian aid in Taez, Yemen in May 2020 [File: Ahmad al-Basha/AFP]

“In the absence of immediate action, millions of lives may be lost,” Guterres said.

The warning comes as the Trump administration considers labeling Yemeni Houthi rebels, the root cause of the five-year ongoing civil war, terrorists. The UN warns that such a move would be counterproductive to humanitarian efforts on the ground, as countries will be forced to cut aid because of the declaration.

“I urge all those with influence to act urgently on these issues to stave off catastrophe, and I also request that everyone avoids taking any action that could make the already dire situation even worse,” Guterres said.

Yemen is already considered the world's worst humanitarian crisis and the world's worst malnutrition hit nation.

By: Niza Nondo