New York  - The World Food Programme said Friday it has begun handing out emergency food rations to thousands of Yemenis displaced by the latest surge in fighting in northwestern Yemen, even though its funds for the country are being depleted.

WFP said it was forced to halve the rations distributed to Yemenis in July because of a shortage of funds for the 95,000 war-affected people, many of whom depended entirely on the agency's assistance. Another 150,000 in the Sa'ada region have received food rations for two weeks.

WFP said 7,000 people in the Hajjah governorate last week received high-energy biscuits and dates. It has also begun distributing a full one-month ration of cereal, pulse, vegetable oil, salt and sugar to another 10,000 people in Hajjah.

The agency said it is short 20 million dollars to assist Yemen in 2009.

The UN Children's Fund raised concerns about the impact on the estimated 100,000 children and women displaced by the fighting. It said 46 per cent of children under the age of five are suffering from malnutrition and stunted growth.

UNICEF said it is focusing on problems of safe drinking water and hygiene conditions in Yemen and has begun distributing water filters, water purification tablets and hygiene kits to those displaced by the war. (dpa)