International Report Warns Houthi Attacks Threaten Yemen's Food Security and Trade

A recent report by the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) warns that Houthi attacks on the port of Mokha and commercial vessels in the Bab al-Mandab Strait have severely disrupted trade, destabilized local markets, and exacerbated Yemen’s critical food insecurity.

The assessment, which outlines food security projections through January 2027, highlights how the targeting of critical maritime infrastructure has crippled supply chains for essential goods, particularly fuel. The temporary suspension of operations at the port of Mokha has significantly hindered the flow of supplies to western Yemen, creating a cascading effect on regional economic stability.

According to the report, the physical damage to the port’s infrastructure is estimated at $79 million. The hostilities have resulted in 16 fatalities and 22 injuries, while also threatening the livelihoods of approximately 1,500 port workers and thousands of others who depend on the facility’s operations for their economic survival. Analysts warn that persistent aggression will continue to exert upward pressure on the prices of imported food and non-food items in a nation heavily reliant on imports to meet basic needs.

The report projects that emergency-level food insecurity—the fourth phase of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)—will persist in the governorates of Hodeidah, Hajjah, and Taiz. While a slight seasonal improvement is anticipated following the grain harvest in October, widespread gaps in food consumption are expected to continue through January. These challenges are further compounded by reduced rainfall, limited income opportunities, and a broader economic deterioration that leaves millions of Yemenis increasingly vulnerable to further shocks.