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Yemen on Brink of Famine Due to Grain Shortage

Yemenis fill their jerrycans with water from a well at a makeshift camp for people who fled the conflict, in the village of Hays in Yemen's western province of Hodeidah, on May 17, 2022. (AFP)
Yemenis fill their jerrycans with water from a well at a makeshift camp for people who fled the conflict, in the village of Hays in Yemen's western province of Hodeidah, on May 17, 2022. (AFP)
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Yemen on Brink of Famine Due to Grain Shortage

Yemenis fill their jerrycans with water from a well at a makeshift camp for people who fled the conflict, in the village of Hays in Yemen's western province of Hodeidah, on May 17, 2022. (AFP)
Yemenis fill their jerrycans with water from a well at a makeshift camp for people who fled the conflict, in the village of Hays in Yemen's western province of Hodeidah, on May 17, 2022. (AFP)

For the first time in years since the Houthi coup, major commercial suppliers have sounded the alarm in Yemen, warning of an imminent famine in the country as a result of the rise in global wheat prices and diminishing stocks.

The Hayel Saeed Anam (HSA) Group, Yemen's largest company and leading wheat importer, issued a stark warning of impending mass famine as a result of unprecedented disruption to global wheat supplies generated by the fallout from the conflict in Ukraine.

It said global wheat prices are set to rise further due to the export ban on Indian wheat that recently came into effect.

The United Nations had warned in April that over 25.5 million Yemenis out of the country’s 30 million people are living below the poverty line due to the war in their country.

HSA therefore called for immediate international intervention to avert another humanitarian catastrophe in the coming months, proposing that international and regional organizations explore innovative solutions to ensure sufficient wheat supplies reach Yemeni communities.

Nabil Hayel Saeed Anam, managing director of the company, said that during this current period of global uncertainty, HSA has taken steps to ensure access to basic commodities "so that we can continue to provide affordable food and essential goods to Yemeni people."

“This includes making use of our $75 million loan agreement with the International Finance Corporation, which has allowed us to mobilize working capital rapidly in the face of rising wheat prices to secure sufficient supplies of this daily staple for Yemen,” he said.

Hayel Saeed Anam added that desperate times call for bold action.

“We stand ready to work hand-in-hand with our international and regional partners to help put in place emergency mechanisms to respond to Yemen's food security crisis that will enable the private sector to access and fund wheat imports in the immediate term,” he said.

“Without an urgent intervention, there is an immediate and definitive risk that we will not be able to prevent a wave of extreme hunger from engulfing the country and pushing hundreds of thousands into famine,” he added.

Despite the series of warnings for urgent solutions and proposals to avoid a shortage of wheat supplies to Yemen, the Iran-backed Houthi militias and their unrecognized government continue to deliberately ignore the gravity of this potential disaster, while continuing to hinder the work of relief groups.

Informed sources in Sanaa said the militias have recently instructed their supporters in the occupied capital, Sanaa, to stop the operation of many local humanitarian and charitable institutions in several cities under their control.

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Clashes Erupt between Local Factions, Armed Tribal Groups in Syria’s Suwayda

Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)
Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)
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Clashes Erupt between Local Factions, Armed Tribal Groups in Syria’s Suwayda

Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)
Scenes of normal life in the town of Ashrafiyat Sahnaya (SANA)

Intense clashes erupted in southern Syria between local factions in Suwayda province and armed tribal groups from the surrounding countryside, stoking fears of renewed sectarian violence between communities in Suwayda and neighboring Daraa.

The fighting broke out in the western countryside of Suwayda, just a day after Druze religious leaders and community elders announced the start of an agreement intended to bring stability to the area. Conflicting reports have emerged about the reasons behind the escalation.

Local Telegram channels reported what they called a “military escalation” as armed Bedouin groups, described as “outlaws,” were accused of attempting to break a siege around Bedouin-inhabited villages in the western countryside. Mortar exchanges and machine gun fire were reported between the two sides.

In particular, the village of Al-Dara, home to Bedouin tribes, was reportedly shelled from the nearby town of Al-Thaala. In response, tribal fighters launched a counteroffensive, leading to clashes that involved the use of heavy weaponry.

The independent news outlet Suwayda 24 reported that Al-Thaala itself came under attack from unknown groups firing mortars and machine guns from the western outskirts of the town. The incident triggered a gun battle between local defenders and the attackers.

Rumors further fueled tensions, with some claiming that local factions attempted to destroy a mosque and targeted civilian neighborhoods. Meanwhile, Al-Rasid, another outlet covering Suwayda, noted a sharp increase in provocative videos and audio messages alleging that Suwayda factions were besieging tribal areas and setting fire to mosques.

Officials have denied these claims. Religious leaders reaffirmed that mosques remained protected by local factions. Despite this, armed groups from eastern Daraa, reportedly not locals, began shelling Suwayda villages.

Sources in Daraa told Suwayda 24 that these groups, arriving on motorcycles and in vehicles equipped with mortars and heavy weapons, have been trying to provoke unrest for days. Videos and messages circulated on WhatsApp were allegedly aimed at inciting local communities.

The clashes have already had humanitarian consequences. Mortar attacks on villages including Haran, Al-Thaala, Rasas, and Ara resulted in the death of one civilian and injuries to eight others. Dozens of families, particularly women and children, have fled to safer areas.

Local sources say the violence is a deliberate attempt to sow discord between the Druze and tribal communities. They urged residents of both Suwayda and Daraa to resist incitement and work together to de-escalate the situation.

Meanwhile, Syria’s Interior Ministry announced the release of 22 detainees from the towns of Sahnaya and Ashrafiyat Sahnaya in Damascus Countryside, stating they were not involved in bloodshed during recent unrest.

Separately, the Israeli military announced it had raided and destroyed a former Syrian regime command post on Mount Hermon. Israeli forces reportedly uncovered weapons caches and military infrastructure during the operation and seized the materials.