Experts say famine is looming in 4 Yemeni districts as hunger surges among children

Cairo: Famine is looming in four Yemeni districts after instances of hunger have rapidly surged among children in areas controlled by the internationa...

Cairo: Famine is looming in four Yemeni districts after instances of hunger have rapidly surged among children in areas controlled by the internationally recognized government, a report by international experts said.

All 117 districts in government-controlled areas are expected to suffer from "serious” levels of acute malnutrition.

Among them, the four districts - Mawza and Mocha in Taiz province, and Hays and Khawkhah in Hodeida province - are projected to slip into famine between July and October this year, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, or IPC.

About half of the country's population - or 18.2 million people - are in need of humanitarian aid this year, according to the United Nations.

The number of acutely malnourished children has increased by 34% compared to last year, the report said.