Years of conflict, economic decline, climate shocks and funding shortages have left millions of people struggling to meet their basic food needs. The situation has deteriorated further since fighting escalated in September 2026, displacing [VERIFY: number of people displaced since early September 2026], including families from Taiz and areas along Yemen's west coast.
"For families forced to flee conflict, receiving food quickly can make the difference between coping and falling deeper into crisis," said Elkhidir Daloum, WFP Representative and Country Director in Yemen. "We are grateful to Japan for its continued support, enabling WFP to provide immediate assistance to newly displaced families and help vulnerable communities meet their food needs."
Japan's contribution will enable WFP to:
- Provide life-saving food assistance to 300,000 conflict-affected people.
- Support the inter-agency Rapid Response Mechanism to reach families in the first days following displacement with 2,500 Immediate Response Ration kits.
- Distribute 2,995 metric tons of wheat flour to vulnerable households.
Each Immediate Response Ration kit contains ready-to-eat food sufficient for a family of seven for five days. The wheat flour will provide follow-on assistance after families receive the initial emergency ration.
The new contribution comes as many families across Yemen are increasingly resorting to harmful coping strategies as they struggle to secure enough food. Conflict-related displacement is placing further pressure on affected communities and humanitarian services.
Japan is a longstanding partner of WFP in Yemen, contributing USD 170 million since 2016 to humanitarian and development programmes that save lives, strengthen resilience and improve food security.
"This contribution will help WFP act quickly when families are displaced, while continuing to support communities already facing severe food insecurity," said Elkhidir Daloum, WFP Representative and Country Director in Yemen. "Japan's partnership is vital to ensuring assistance reaches people when they need it most."
