WFP Yemen Food Security Update, March 2026

Key Highlights;

• Yemen experienced seasonal improvement in food security in February 2026, primarily driven by increased religious charity during Ramadan, higher remittance inflows, appreciation of the YER in IRG areas, and the partial payment of public-sector salaries. Seasonal gains in food consumption during Ramadan are normaly short‑lived, with food insecurity worsening in the post‑Ramadan period.
• Despite the Ramadan effect, adequate food remained beyond reach for 57% of surveyed households nationwide in February 2026, including 30% facing severe food deprivation, while reliance on severe coping strategies increased compared with the preceding month to meet food shortages. All governorates in Yemen exceeded the very high threshold for severe food deprivation in February, with peaks recorded in Abyan, Ad Dali’, Sa’dah, Raymah, and Al Jawf governorates.
• In IRG areas, the Yemeni Riyal strengthened further in February 2026, reaching YER 1,556/US$ by the end of the month. This policy-driven appreciation contributed to lower food and fuel prices YoY. However, liquidity pressures were observed in February. In SBA areas, February reports showed YoY price increases for vegetable oil and wheat flour in Sana’a City. The heightened risk of increasing fuel prices in local markets because of ongoing volatility in global markets is likely to pose further pressure on commodity prices nationwide. Meanwhile, IMF projects Yemen to remain among the poorest economies globally in 2026.
• Food imports via all Yemeni seaports rose by 5% between January and February 2026 compared to the same period last year, with current wheat reserves reported to be sufficient for around three months. On the other hand, damage to port infrastructure and reduced operational capacity pushed fuel import volumes via Red Sea ports in January and February to their lowest monthly levels in the past four years. In IRG areas, fuel imports via Aden and Al Mukalla ports between January and February 2026 declined by 7% YoY. Close monitoring is necessary in the coming months amid escalating regional tensions in late February. Potential fuel shortages could trigger interruptions in milling operations in SBA areas, driving up wheat flour prices.
• Due to severe funding shortages, WFP started the implementation of its new Targeted Emergency Food Assistance (TEFA) programme in IRG areas in early February 2026 in 53 priority districts, reducing the number of beneficiaries from 3.4 to 1.7 million.

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