Yemen Crisis Appeal launched across UK as millions face starvation after 20 months of war

More than seven million people in the country do not know where their next meal will come from

Udai Faisal, an infant suffering from acute malnutrition, at Al-Sabeen Hospital in Sanaa, Yemen, on 22 March, 2016. Udai died on 24 March (AP )

A major charity appeal has been launched to help the civilians facing hunger in war-torn Yemen.

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), which represents 13 UK aid charities, said the country was at "breaking point" following 20 months of conflict as it announced the fundraiser.

More than seven million people in the country did not know where their next meal would come from and many children are dying from malnutrition, the organisation said.

The British Red Cross, Oxfam, Save The Children and Christian Aid are among the charities supporting the Yemen Crisis Appeal.

Saida Ahmad Baghili, 18, suffers from severe acute malnutrition ( REUTERS/Abduljabbar Zeyad) (REUTERS/Abduljabbar Zeyad)

Actor Tom Hardy and television presenter Clare Balding will announce the launch of the appeal on Tuesday.

The DEC said member charities were already reaching "millions of people" with aid, but said: "Much more needs to be done to help those in dire need."

The senior UN humanitarian official in the country has warned that the world is ignoring the worsening humanitarian crisis affecting the country.

Even before the start of the conflict in March 2015, Yemen was suffering a humanitarian crisis including widespread hunger, brought on by decades of poverty and internal strife.

Around half of Yemen's 28 million people are "food insecure," according to the United Nations, and seven million of them do not know where they will get their next meal.

A malnourished boy sits on a bed at a malnutrition treatment center in Sanaa, Yemen, on October 30 2016 (Reuters)

The appeal comes after Foreign Secretary Boris johnson said he had a "deep concern" about the suffering of Yemenis but backed the Saudi Arabia-led military intervention in the country.

DEC chief executive Saleh Saeed, said: “Now is the time to save lives in Yemen before it is too late. Children face the greatest risk of starvation – almost half a million infants and young children need immediate treatment for malnutrition.

"DEC members are already providing treatment for malnutrition, running mobile health teams, distributing emergency food and cash but they need funds to reach more people.”

The UK Government has pledged to match public donations to the appeal.

International Development Secretary Priti Patel said: “Yemen faces a humanitarian crisis that the international community cannot ignore.

"Yemen has become the ‘forgotten crisis’ despite more than 10 million people desperately needing help and the threat of famine hanging over the country.

She added: “The UK has led the international community to step up its efforts but more support is urgently needed, as this DEC Appeal shows.

“By matching pound for pound public donations to the DEC Appeal, we will double the difference British people can make to the lives of undernourished children with clean water, lifesaving food and medical treatment."

To make a donation visit http://www.dec.org.uk, call 0370 60 60 900, visit any high street bank or Post Office, or donate £5 by texting the word SUPPORT to 70000.​