Yemen bank freeze spurs famine risk

Many areas of Yemen are close to famine partly because importers are unable to buy new food stocks from abroad as over $200m is stuck in banks due to the civil war disruption, trade and aid sources involved say.

Western banks had already cut credit lines for traders shipping food to Yemen, fearing they would not be repaid due to the security chaos and fragile financial system.

Now, they are increasingly unwilling to offer letters of credit, which guarantee sellers will be paid on time.