Sana’a — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has announced plans to resume emergency food distributions in northern Yemen, specifically in areas under the control of the Houthi movement, by the end of July.

The move comes after a three-month suspension of aid deliveries due to operational and funding challenges. According to WFP’s latest humanitarian report, the organization is preparing to launch the second cycle of its Targeted Emergency Food Assistance (TEFA) program, aiming to reach 803,000 people across 25 districts most affected by food insecurity.

The suspension, which began in April 2025, left millions without critical food support. WFP cited a sharp decline in funding, receiving only 7% of the required budget for the first four months of the year. The agency warned that the delay in aid had worsened malnutrition rates and disrupted supply chains.

The resumed distributions are part of WFP’s broader emergency response strategy, which began in August 2024 to address the deteriorating food security situation in Yemen. While aid operations continued in government-controlled regions — reaching over 1 million beneficiaries in June alone — Houthi-held areas saw no distributions during the same period.

WFP officials emphasized the urgency of restoring aid to vulnerable populations and called on international donors to increase support. “We are doing everything we can to resume life-saving assistance, but without adequate funding, our ability to respond remains severely limited,” the agency stated.

The humanitarian situation in Yemen remains dire, with over 17 million people facing acute food insecurity. The resumption of aid in Houthi-controlled areas is expected to provide critical relief to families struggling with hunger and displacement.