A UN report warned of the dangers of prolonged drought conditions to food security in Yemen, especially in areas that rely heavily on agricultural production for their livelihood.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in a report issued today that the decrease in water availability has led to stress on winter crops and delayed agriculture in areas that depend on rainwater.

The report indicated that the performance of vegetation cover was poor during last November, in areas that depend on residual moisture, especially in low agricultural areas.

Noting that the country has entered the dry season, which has led to a general decrease in rainfall in most areas, scattered rainfall has been reported, especially in the western highlands and Socotra, resulting in slight abnormal conditions in total rainfall.

The report expected that Yemen would witness minimal rainfall, cooler nights, and the continuation of the dry season, all of which would have a negative impact on agricultural livelihoods and the rural economy. It also expected water scarcity, low soil moisture, and reduced crop irrigation, leading to Decreased crop yields.

He added: “Cold temperatures in high altitude areas may increase the risk of frost, greatly affecting the health of crops and livestock, and in drier areas, degraded pastures will force pastoralists to rely on expensive supplementary feeding or migrate, creating Logistical challenges"