United States wheat shipment arrives in Yemeni port

A shipment of wheat from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) – sufficient for nearly 2 million people for two months – berthed in the Yemeni port of Hodeidah last Wednesday and offloaded its cargo over the weekend.

“The food supplies USAID has provided will provide critical assistance to nearly 2 million of the most vulnerable and conflict-affected people in Yemen. WFP is grateful for this timely contribution providing 10,000 metric tons of wheat through Aden and 20,000 metric tons through Hodeidah,” said Purnima Kashyap, Representative and Country Director of WFP in Yemen, according to the World Food Program website on Monday. 

The Liberty Glory is the second vessel to deliver a US wheat contribution since WFP began its emergency operation in Yemen a year ago. The ship carries 30,000 metric tons of wheat, from a US$45 million contribution from the U.S. to WFP in December 2015. The Sea Athena delivered 35,800 metric tons of US origin wheat to WFP in Yemen in September 2015. 

Since March 2015, USAID has contributed a total of US$123 million. "This is another example of Americans wanting to assist those impacted by a large scale crisis. This food will help alleviate some of the worst impacts the crisis has had," said Matthew Nims, Acting Director of USAID's Office of Food for Peace.

The year-long conflict has worsened living conditions of the poor and vulnerable in Yemen, adding more than 3 million people to the ranks of the hungry in less than a year. According to the UN’s 2016 Humanitarian Needs Overview, 7.6 million people in Yemen are severely food insecure – a level of need that requires urgent, external, food assistance.