Malnutrition rates in Yemen are escalating as families struggle with soaring healthcare and nutrition costs following the suspension of the World Food Programme's (WFP) malnutrition prevention program in parts of the country. The global community observes World Humanitarian Day on Tuesday, against the backdrop of a major funding crisis affecting the WFP. The WFP, as the world's largest humanitarian organization, has announced plans to reduce its workforce by 25 to 30 percent next year due to shrinking resources. Once a leading donor, the U.S. had provided 42 percent of global aid, totaling around 42.8 billion U.S. dollars annually, but recent cuts have left a critical funding gap. This funding gap has halted WFP assistance for over 426,000 Yemeni women and children, many of whom are now in critical need. Samir Mohammed Othman, a local farmer, shared that his family has sold everything they own but still cannot afford treatment for their children. "I am Samir Mohammed Ali Sagheer Othman. We came from Abs District in Hajjah Governorate to Sanaa. We were hoping our son would get better. But there are no signs of improvement. He still suffers from malnutrition and wasting despite the long trip we came from the far area to here. From what I see, even though my son has been here for a month and a half, his condition remains the same and is even worsening. Every day passes and his condition worsens although we are buying medications for him, doing lab tests, and daily CT scans. The last chest X-ray alone cost us 25,000 Yemeni rials. We're exhausted. His mother is in a very difficult emotional state. Every time she sees him, she breaks into tears. Sometimes, she even refuses to eat. His sister, too, watches her brother and wants to play with him, but he won't respond. She just stands there, confused. As for the treatment costs I swear we've gone into debt and sold everything we owned," he said. Anis Al-Asbahi, spokesman of the Ministry of Health and Environment in Sanaa, said the suspension of the WFP's program is causing a "health catastrophe." "Ten ongoing years of war in Yemen and a blockade have led to a sharp rise in cases of malnutrition among children, causing a humanitarian catastrophe. It's one of the worst indicators in the world, according to reports from UNICEF and the United Nations. Today, the total number of children suffering from wasting and in need of treatment is around 2,300,000. The number of children suffering from wasting is approximately 2,100,000. The number of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition is about 500,000," he said. Nearly half of Yemeni children under five are suffering from stunting, while acute malnutrition impacts countless others. Over 17 million people are facing hunger, a number expected to rise to 18 million by February 2026, with women and children bearing the brunt of the crisis, according to a recent United Nations briefing. SHOTLIST: FILE: Sanaa, Yemen - July 9, 2022 1. Various of Yemeni national flag; Sanaa, Yemen - Recent 2. Various of Samir Mohammed Othman, farmer, going to hospital; 3. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Samir Mohammed Othman, farmer (starting with shot 2/partially overlaid with shots 4-12): "I am Samir Mohammed Ali Sagheer Othman. We came from Abs District in Hajjah Governorate to Sanaa. We were hoping our son would get better. But there are no signs of improvement. He still suffers from malnutrition and wasting despite the long trip we came from the far area to here. From what I see, even though my son has been here for a month and a half, his condition remains the same and is even worsening. Every day passes and his condition worsens although we are buying medications for him, doing lab tests, and daily CT scans. The last chest X-ray alone cost us 25,000 Yemeni rials. We're exhausted. His mother is in a very difficult emotional state. Every time she sees him, she breaks into tears. Sometimes, she even refuses to eat. His sister, too, watches her brother and wants to play with him, but he won't respond. She just stands there, confused. As for the treatment costs I swear we've gone into debt and sold everything we owned."; [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 4. Othman's baby in hospital bed; 5. Various of Othman watching his baby; 6. Various of Othman, doctor; 7. Various of Othman holding X-ray result; 8. Various of Othman, his wife; 9. Various of Othman's wife taking care of baby in hospital; 10. Othman's children in hospital bed; 11. Othman taking care of baby; 12. Othman's baby in hospital bed; [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 13. Othman in hospital; 14. Anis Al-Asbahi, spokesman of the Ministry of Health and Environment, in hospital; 15. Baby in hospital bed; 16. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Anis Al-Asbahi, spokesman of the Ministry of Health and Environment (starting with shots 14-15/ending with shots 17-24): "Ten ongoing years of war in Yemen and a blockade have led to a sharp rise in cases of malnutrition among children, causing a humanitarian catastrophe. It's one of the worst indicators in the world, according to reports from UNICEF and the United Nations. Today, the total number of children suffering from wasting and in need of treatment is around 2,300,000. The number of children suffering from wasting is approximately 2,100,000. The number of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition is about 500,000."; 17. Various of Othman's wife taking care of baby in hospital; 18. Anis Al-Asbahi talking with doctor; 19. Various of babies in hospital bed; 20. Various of children at hospital; 21. Various of medical worker doing physical check-up for babies; 22. Anis Al-Asbahi; 23. Vehicles in front of hospital; 24. Logo of WFP; FILE: Taiz, Yemen - May 30, 2025 25. Aerial shots of city view. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]