The United Nations warned of a dire nutrition situation for children in Yemen at a meeting of the Security Council on Tuesday, with China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations calling on the international community to take urgent steps to halt regional confrontations and ease the humanitarian crisis. At the meeting, Ramesh Rajasingham, director of the Coordination Division of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, briefed the UN Security Council on the devastating food crisis in Yemen on behalf of UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher. Half of the nation's children under the age of 5 are suffering from acute malnutrition, and nearly half suffering from stunting, said Rajasingham. More than 17 million people are going hungry, and this figure may crest 18 million by February next year, with women and children bearing the brunt of this disaster, he noted. In response to the urgent situation, the UN official for direct financial support for the Yemen Humanitarian Fund, which will be releasing 20 million U.S. dollars to address the negative impacts of food insecurity. He also reiterated that a political solution remains the only sustainable, concrete path toward a more secure and prosperous future for all people in Yemen. Also speaking at the meeting, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations Geng Shuang highlighted the importance of a political settlement of the Yemen issue, as well as peace and stability in the Red Sea region. Currently, Yemen's political stalemate persists, with a fragile security situation and a severe humanitarian crisis, said the Chinese official. "Yemen is going through one of the most severe food crises in the world, with nearly half of its population undernourished and about 4.8 million people displaced. Women, children, and other vulnerable groups are in especially difficult situations. The international community should ramp up humanitarian aid to Yemen to support its economic development, improve livelihoods, and help its people to weather the crisis," Geng said. Noting that Israeli and Houthi forces have been exchanging attacks, keeping tensions in the Red Sea high, Geng said that China calls on both parties to the Yemeni conflict to re-engage in dialogue and work together with the greatest sincerity to resolve divergences, build maximum consensus to achieve reconciliation, and make the utmost effort to restore peace. The situation in Yemen and the Red Sea is closely linked to the broader situation in the Middle East. The international community should take all necessary actions to bring an earliest end to the Gaza conflict, ease the humanitarian crisis, and help cool down the tensions across the region, he added. SHOTLIST: FILE: UN Headquarters, New York City - Date Unknown 1. United Nations headquarters; 2. UN flag; UN Headquarters, New York City - Aug 12, 2025 3. Various of UN Security Council conference in process, Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, speaking; 4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations: "Yemen is going through one of the most severe food crises in the world, with nearly half of its population undernourished and about 4.8 million people displaced. Women, children, and other vulnerable groups are in especially difficult situations. The international community should ramp up humanitarian aid to Yemen to support its economic development, improve livelihoods, and help its people to weather the crisis."; FILE: Sanaa, Yemen - July 9, 2022 5. Various of Yemeni national flag; FILE: Taiz, Yemen - May 30, 2025 6. Aerial shots of cityscape; FILE: Sanaa, Yemen - May 6, 2025 7. Various of dense smoke rising, buildings. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland/For news purpose only/No archive/Not for other production use]