The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warned on Thursday of critical funding gaps that have contributed to exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

The office said - in a statement - that “about 21.6 million people in Yemen are in need of humanitarian assistance or protection in 2023, pointing out that Yemen remains one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world.”

He explained that the humanitarian crisis has worsened, driven mainly by the ongoing conflict and economic collapse, due to critical financing gaps, global inflation, the economic crisis and access challenges.

He pointed out that the global food shortage has exacerbated the situation, as many vulnerable families in Yemen face difficulties in securing food, as its prices have become unaffordable.