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2019-Present
As of February 26, 2019 The United Nations (UN) has pledged to secure $4.2 billion to aid the famine in Yemen, this includes "$627 million for the health sector (up from $572 million requested in 2018, of which $270·9 million [47·3%] was received)." Several organizations are calling for an end to weapons distribution, and foreign participation on both sides of the war. The Humans Rights Watch found that the coalition has conducted indiscriminate and disproportionate airstrikes, using weapons sold by the United States, United Kingdom, and other countries, including several banned weapons.

“According to the Household Hunger Scale more than one in five households have “poor” food consumption. More than 20 percent of households faced “severe” hunger, and more than 20 percent of households engage in “emergency” levels of livelihoods coping.” FEWS NET estimates that at least one in five households in most areas of Hajjah are likely facing elevated levels of food insecurity.

UNICEF and The World Health Organization (WHO) stated that having access to aid is a major problem. With several barriers being put in place, making it difficult for organizations to reach Yemen civilians, in a timely matter. The UN has classified Yemen as a non-permissive environment. UNICEF was successful in getting 80-85% access to rubella vaccination, in the country.

The World Food Program(WFP) plans to provide 12 million people monthly with food. This is a 50 per cent increase since 2018. The WFP will also provide 2 million commodity vouchers, and 10 million people will receive in-kind food rations. The WFP plans to transfer cash that is equivalent to $12 USD per person per month, to help the country's economy. “WFP is providing nutritional support to 1.5 million pregnant and nursing women and children under 5 and will gradually scale up to reach nearly 3 million by the end of 2019." According to UNICEF approximately nine in ten beneficiaries used the money to purchase food. The WFP so far has given food rations to approximately 5,000 families.

Approximately 272,494 MT of food commodities were imported in early 2019. This is a 67 percent increase from December 2018. In February, food imports decreased by 33 percent compared to January 2019. “ As of January 28, 2019, WFP estimates the quantity of… available stock of food commodities was approximately 569,470 MT.” Staple foods have improved in January, and the WFP expected cereal stocks, will be enough to cover national requirement until the third week of March. In January several staple foods remained available in most markets. The prices of import staple foods remain subject to change, based on the YER/USD rate. Due to this the Yemen food security outlook predicts that Yemen will face a sharp increase in staple food prices. This will affect several Yemen households that rely on this as a source for food.

Famine Prevention Plan
The Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations (FAO), developed a five-month short term prevention plan to help deal with the famine the plan runs from January- June 2019 (6 months). The plan is to intervene in the most vulnerable and food insecure regions of Yemen. The Plan requires $83.2 million USD. The FAO's main household focus will be on displaced, marginalized and host community settings with pregnant and lactating mothers, children under 5 with severe malnutrition, female headed households, child-headed households, elderly-headed households, and households with chronically ill and physically-challenged members. It will be cash based assistance, the assistance is supposed to increase purchases within households, and help aide agriculture infrastructure. The plan is supposed to set a foundation for agriculture and economic recovery for Yemen. The FAO's goal is to assist 1.6 million people. The Famine Prevention plan also a line with Yemen's Famine Prevention Roadmap and the Yemen Prevention Strategy. The FAO reports that in October-November 2018 the price for basic food rose by 25 percent. A factor that threatens crop production in the country is the recent invasive species fall army-worm. The FAO are trying to create a way to deal with the invasive species. Overall, the assistance will not only affect farmers, but help to improve agriculture infrastructure as well. The FAO states, "this will also set the foundation for economic and agricultural recovery in Yemen."

Assumption
It is assumed that from February 2019 to September 2019 conflict will continue to play a major role in the famine, with organizations unable to reach civilians who are in need of aid, due to blockades within the region. The economy will also continue to effect Yemen if the war does not end. The central bank, oil exports, foreign reserves, exchange rates, and liquidity constraints will continue to be affected. Wheat flour prices will be above average price according to Food Security Outlook. It is predicted that wheat flour will be between 50 to 80 percent above average price in 2019. Agriculture production will continue to be affected, production will be below average due to lack of availability and limited access to conflict zones. It is predicted that assistance will still be needed until September 2019.

Events that might change the outlook
Yemen achieving a ceasefire can lead to a more stable food market, and once government functions resume back to normal prices will return to what it was before. If the Yemen Central Bank receives external assistance, the Yemen- US dollar exchange rate would become more stable Fews Net predicts that “import levels, local food availability, and food prices would begin to stabilize. As well as government salaries, pensions, and social welfare would be paid, increasing household purchasing power and improving food security.”  The Yemen Food Security Outlook states that if “food imports stop due to closure of main ports, destruction of key port infrastructure, or major macroeconomic changes that prevent traders from funding imports.”  They predict this will lead to food availability on local markets would decline and food security outcomes would likely worsen in areas that are considered IPC Phase 5. They also noted that with additional humanitarian assistance food protection will increase, and malnutrition will decrease.

Reference List
Abedi, M. (2019, February 02). Yemen’s humanitarian crisis explained in 2 charts. Retrieved from https://globalnews.ca/news/4915160/yemens-humanitarian-crisis-explainer/

Food and Agriculture Organization. Yemen Famine Prevention Plan - January–June 2019. (2019, January). Retrieved from http://www.fao.org/emergencies/resources/documents/resources-detail/en/c/1178664/

Oxfam America.Years of conflict pushing people in Yemen to edge of famine. (2019, March 18). Retrieved from https://www.oxfamamerica.org/explore/stories/conflict-people-yemen-famine/

Relief Web. Yemen Food Security Outlook February to September 2019 - Yemen. (2019, March 23). Retrieved from https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-food-security-outlook-february-september-2019

United Nations. 10 million Yemenis 'one step away from famine', UN food relief agency calls for 'unhindered access' to frontline regions| UN News. (2019, March 26). Retrieved from https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/03/1035501

Zarocostas, J. (2019). ''Some major donors criticized at UN Yemen pledge meeting. The Lancet, 393''(10175). doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(19)30538-0