WEB DESK

The under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, Mark Lowcock, has warned that International aid agencies might lose the fight against the famine in Yemen.

He told the United Nations Security Council on Friday that more than three million people may soon be added to the eight million Yemenis already facing starvation.

A sharp drop in the value of Yemen’s currency has sent fuel prices spiralling, which along with renewed fighting, has worsened what the UN considers the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

The council was meeting at Britain’s request to discuss the worsening crisis in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition is fighting Iran-aligned rebels who control the capital Sanaa.

Mr. Lowcock said the situation had deteriorated alarmingly in recent weeks. The stark warning came ahead of next week’s gathering of world leaders at the United Nations for the annual debate on global issues, including Yemen.