Eight million people in need in Yemen

By Nathan Morley

A lack of funds has forced the World Food Programme to reduce assistance to eight million people in need in Yemen.

The situation in Yemen continues to be increasingly bleak. From next month, affected families will get barely half the daily minimum ration from the UN agency, opening the possibility of millions slipping into famine conditions.

With food stocks dangerously low, the WFP says more severe reductions would soon be unavoidable. Compounding matters, malnutrition treatment and food supplies for children may also be scaled down.

The country has been devastated by a conflict that escalated in 2015. Fighting has reportedly left more than 120,000 people dead and left the economy on the brink, leaving about 16 million people affected by inadequate food consumption.

Sudan

Meanwhile, to the west in Sudan, pro-democracy activists continue to accuse the military of stealing the revolution that led to Omar al-Bashir being ousted two years ago.

Coup leader Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan has defended October's military takeover. He maintains the army acted to prevent a civil war because political groups had been inciting civilians against security forces.

Two people were reportedly killed during a protest last weekend when thousands marched in Khartoum to condemn the coup.

Syria

To the north in Syria, new figures show the on-going conflict has killed 3,746 people this year - the lowest annual death toll so far, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The conflict has left close to 500,000 people dead and spurred the largest displacement of people since World War II.