Humanitarian Situation in Yemen 'Bleak'

Mark Lowcock, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (OCHA), made the comments while briefing the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Yemen, Anadolu Agency reported.

Lowcock said millions of people across the country are at risk of dying due to food scarcity and that the situation has deteriorated in an "alarming" fashion.

"We are already seeing pockets of famine-like conditions --- including cases where people are eating leaves because they have no other form of sustenance," he added.

He stressed that 75 percent of Yemen's population of around 22 million are in need of some form of humanitarian assistance.

"We may now be approaching a tipping point, beyond which, it will be impossible to prevent massive loss of life as a result of widespread famine across the country," Lowcock stated.

He noted, however, that the situation has remained stable and that the worst loss of life has been avoided thanks to relief efforts.

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