The European Union (EU) unblocked an extra five million euros for Yemen on Monday to help fight mounting malnutrition in what it said was a “desperate” food crisis affecting almost half of the population.

“The crisis in Yemen has gone from bad to desperate,” said Kristalina Georgieva, European commissioner for humanitarian aid.

She said with 44 per cent of the people were surviving on meagre food rations, the EU executive was increasing its aid “not just because we must prevent malnutrition from rising further but also because hunger and suffering can only destabilise the fragile on-going transition.”

“Yemeni people desperately need international support to rebuild their lives,” she said in a statement.

“Ignoring this would bear tremendous risks for the region and the world.”

The Commission has already mobilised 20 million euros in humanitarian aid for Yemen this year and the new funds will increase and improve access to clean water, support feeding programmes, develop cash-for-work schemes and provide cash grants for 200,000 people.

The EU had renewed its commitment to support Yemen via a comprehensive scheme.