Yemen Hunger

What are the issues that affect food security and nutrition in your country?

Yemen is ranked as the 11th most food-insecure country globally with one in three Yemenis suffering from acute hunger. More than 44% of the population does not have enough access to food.

Between 2009 and 2011, some 2.5 million more Yemeni people became severely food insecure. The charts show the difference percentage rates between those years.

One of the issues that affect food insecurity and nutrition in Yemen is the decreasing harvest during the last two years. More than three-quarters of all farmers reported a lower harvest in 2011 than in 2009. Consequently rely in imported food increased and Yemeni people had to spend more money in food. Actually, “people spend more on qat than on health, education, or clothes” (IFPRI, 2011). (2012, p.52).

Central Intelligence Agency. (2012). The World Factbook: Yemen. Retrieved from

            https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ym.html.

(Statistics by Area / Child Survival and Health, 2011)

Statistics by Area / Child Survival and Health. (2011, September). Retrieved July 11, 2012, from www.childinfo.org: http://www.childinfo.org/mortality_imrcountrydata.php

 United Nations World Food Programme. (2012). The State of Food Security and Nutrition in

            Yemen: Comprehensive Food Security Survey. Retrieved from

            http://documents.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/ena/wfp247832.pdf.

What is the extent of hunger in this country? What is this estimate based on and how reliable is it? How has the extent of hunger changed during the recent history of this country?

Yemenis are suffering from acute hunger. The extent of hunger has changed over the years. The table below shows the Yemen hunger for the past years.

COUNTRY GLOBAL HUNGER INDEX SCORES BY RANK, 1990 GHI, 1996 GHI, 2001 GHI, and 2011 GHI

Is agriculture able to feed the population? Is there sufficient water?

As said before the agriculture in Yemen isn’t able to feed the population. And this is in part because of the water shortage. Because diesel fuel is in short supply, many water pumps are not operating, and using trucks to transport water is becoming so expensive that safe drinking water could soon be unaffordable for most Yemenis. The lack of water is a chronic problem in Yemen. It has been aggravated by the conflict in the north and by the fact that the water table is falling by four to six meters a year.

(IFPRI), I. F. (2011). Qat, water, and agricultural development. Retrieved from www.ifpri.org: http://www.ifpri.org/publication/qat-water-and-agricultural-development

Does the country rely on foreign food? What are the implications of this?
 

            Yemen is a net-food-importing country with an import dependency for 90% of its overall domestic wheat and 100% of its rice requirements, the country’s two main staples.

Yemen’s high dependence on commercial imports would suggest that food availability and consequently, the evolution of food prices are highly dependent on international markets. Following the unification of North and South Yemen in 1990, the Republic of Yemen undertook a structural reform program, which included liberalizing the foreign exchange and trade regimes.  Prior to the uptake of this structural program, the supply of staple foods was ensured through public imports by the Yemeni Economic Corporation (YECO).

(docustore.wfp.org)

(n.d.). Retrieved from docustore.wfp.org: http://docustore.wfp.org/stellent/groups/public/documents/ena/wfp230278.pdf

            What are the different strategies which could be used to combat hunger in each of these countries? Which ones will be easier to implement? Which will be hardest? Why?

World Food Programme (WRP) has already started helping Yemen. Also UNICEF wants to carry out relief missions. They reach all children with life-saving nutritional and health support. But this will hard to do because WFP and UNICEF depend on voluntary funding for their operations. The U.S. and partners for peace in Yemen need to ensure that these agencies have enough funds to carry out relief missions.

(Lambers, 2011)

Lambers, W. (2011, September 18). U.S. Increases Drone Attacks in Yemen, Hunger Relief Remains Low on Funding. Retrieved from blogcritics.org: http://blogcritics.org/culture/article/us-increases-drone-attacks-in-yemen/

            What are the economic, social and political factors contributing to hunger in this country? Which reasons are the most pressing (ex. population size; war; climate, etc.)?

        One factor contributing to hunger in Yemen is the low income of the household. The table below shows the change in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Consumer Price Index (CPI)

                     

Also Yemen’s political crisis last year increased hunger in the country as food and fuel prices surged.  Hunger has doubled since 2009. Conflict in the north and south the country is also exacerbating the crisis

            On the other hand we had also the climate affecting the food security. The major impact channels of climate change are through changing world food prices as a result of global food scarcities, long-term local yield changes as a result of temperature and rainfall variations, and damages and losses of cropland, fruit trees, livestock, and infrastructure as a result of natural disasters such as recurrent storms and floods.

Yemen on brink of hunger catastrophe aid agencies warn. (2012, May 23). Retrieved from www.oxfam.org: http://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/pressrelease/2012-05-23/yemen-brink-hunger-catastrophe

            What is likely to happen in the future with regard to the hungry in this country? How can the problem best be addressed?

Yemeni families are facing an economic crisis. A quarter of the population has fallen into debt trying to feed their families. Mothers are taking their children out of school to beg on the streets to get money to survive. In order to address in Yemen the government should reduce pressure on the food supply through a firm family-planning program. Smart programs in health, nutrition, and family planning, in addition to better service provision and targeted investments, should all be integral parts of Yemen’s food-security strategy.

Yemen on brink of hunger catastrophe aid agencies warn. (2012, May 23). Retrieved from www.oxfam.org: http://www.oxfam.org/en/pressroom/pressrelease/2012-05-23/yemen-brink-hunger-catastrophe

           

            I also found this information about the infant mortality rates in Yemen for the past decades. Since mortality is closely related with hunger I would like to share this graph showing the trends in infant mortality.

Trends in infant mortality rates, 1960–2010

I chose an Indian film titled: “Water”.

What are the values that are admired?

   In this film the author emphasize the importance of moral values such as: honor, purity, kindness and honesty.

How to people interact with one another?

         People treat each other according to their social status. If someone is a rich and a prominent religious person then he or she is going to be treated kindly and respectful. However if the person is a beggar, homeless or a widow (like the protagonist in the film), that person will experience the bitter taste of loneliness and indifference.  Even though there are kind people who really care about others. They aren’t prejudiced for social or religious issues.

How is the culture similar or different from mine?

          Indian culture is greatly distinct from Hispanic culture. The bride doesn’t dress white for the wedding. She wears a dress from different colors to show their happiness. Widows are the ones who wear white dresses. Also Indian girls get married at the few years of life. Unlike us they don’t have the chance of choose to whom they will get married. Somebody of their family choose the husband without the girl’s consent. Another difference is that they don’t bury the person once is dead. Indians cremate the body and throw the ashes in the sea.

   What did you learn about the culture from watching the movie?

      The culture of India is connected with its religion. Traditions must be followed regardless moral and human rights. Widows have three options: Marry their husband’s younger brother, burn with their dead husband or lead a life of self-denial. If they choose the last option they have to cut the hair and stay bald. Also they have to stay in a place with other widows where they live in poverty and precarious sanitary conditions. 

Would you like to visit the country or meet people from the country? Explain your answer

        I would like to visit India and meet people from that country. In that way I would have the opportunity to tell them about the human rights and help them. Also I would like to assist to an Indian wedding and see every detail of that ritual. They have a unique culture so visit their country would be a terrific experience for me.