Urgent concern about malnutrition in Yemen after funding cuts, says MSF

By Olivia Le Poidevin

Malnutrition is growing in Yemen with needs outpacing current treatment capacity, medical charity MSF said on Wednesday, in a statement appealing for greater financial support following a decline in humanitarian funding for the country.

Admissions for malnutrition in Yemen remain alarmingly high, MSF said.

"If we don't act now by boosting nutrition programs, ensuring affordable transport to health facilities ... then we risk an even greater surge of malnutrition in the months ahead," said Himedan Mohammed, head of operations for MSF Middle East.

The organisation said it was unable to meet all the needs despite scaling up treatment capacity, and called for financial support following "sudden and drastic reductions" in humanitarian funding to Yemen.

Yemen has been plagued by years of fighting between the Houthi forces that hold most large urban centres, including the capital Sanaa, and the Saudi-backed government.