As political consultations in Geneva faltered, the military assault on the port city of Hodeidah was renewed, cutting off access to food storage and relief warehouses. This came against the backdrop of a rapidly deteriorating exchange rate, seen as low as YER 820 to $1 by the end of the month, which has contributed to driving up the cost of fuel commodities by 25 percent and the minimum food basket by 35 percent since the end of 2017. “We are losing the fight against famine,” UN relief chief Mark Lowcock warned the Security Council. An additional 3.5 million individuals could soon be added to the existing eight million severely food insecure people, he said, and pockets of “famine-like” conditions are already present.
To read about all the major economic, humanitarian, political, and military developments that took place in Yemen throughout the month, access the full September 2018 issue of the Yemen Trend by clicking on the PDF icon below.