A recent UN report has revealed the serious repercussions of Israeli airstrikes targeting infrastructure in Yemen, indicating that these attacks have directly contributed to deepening the shortage of essential imports in a country already suffering the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The report explained that damage to vital facilities, particularly at major ports, has disrupted supply chains and delayed the arrival of food and fuel shipments.
Repercussions of targeting the port of Hodeidah
The report highlighted in particular the consequences of targeting the port of Hodeidah, the main artery for the flow of food, medicine, and fuel to densely populated areas of Yemen. UN data confirmed that the destruction of fuel tanks and cranes at the port not only resulted in direct material losses but also caused a sharp decline in the port's operational capacity, driving up marine insurance and shipping costs and negatively impacting the prices of basic commodities in local markets already suffering from inflation.
Background of the crisis and the economic context
This report comes at a time when Yemen relies on imports to cover nearly 90% of its food and basic needs. Since the outbreak of conflict nearly a decade ago, the Yemeni economy has faced immense challenges, including the fragmentation of financial institutions, the collapse of the local currency, and a decline in citizens' purchasing power. Israeli airstrikes have added a further burden to the already strained economy, as new restrictions and increased security risks in the Red Sea have led some shipping companies to avoid using Yemeni ports or impose exorbitant additional fees.
Human and regional dimensions
From a humanitarian perspective, UN agencies have warned that the widening import gap means a direct depletion of strategic food and medicine reserves, threatening to exacerbate hunger and malnutrition among millions of Yemenis dependent on aid. Regionally, this development reflects the dangerous escalation of military conflict in the region and its direct impact on civilians, as civilian infrastructure has become a battleground. This necessitates urgent international intervention to ensure the continued flow of life-saving goods and to protect economic facilities from military conflict.
