The United Nations has warned of a large-scale and man-made famine in war-torn Yemen which needs immediate assistance from the international community.

The UN aid chief Mark Lowcock while talking to news persons in New York said some 16 million people which is almost half of  the population are going hungry and of those, five million are on the brink of famine.

He said on Monday the United Nations hopes to raise some 3.85 billion dollars at a virtual pledging event to avert the worst crisis.

The United Arab Emirates has pledged to provide230 million dollars for this year.