SANAA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced its decision to lay off all staff working in areas under Houthi control in northern Yemen by March 31, 2026, effectively halting its operations there. The move, confirmed by humanitarian sources, marks a significant setback for millions of Yemenis who rely on WFP assistance for survival. Humanitarian observers warn that the suspension of WFP activities will exacerbate an already dire situation in Yemen, where more than half of the population urgently needs food aid. The country has long been described as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with widespread hunger and malnutrition threatening vulnerable groups, especially children and women. Aid workers stress that the closure of WFP’s operations in northern Yemen could lead to catastrophic consequences unless alternative mechanisms are swiftly established to deliver life-saving assistance.