One third of Yemen's 22 provinces are on the brink of famine, the UN said, warning that 60 percent of the war-ravaged country's population was going hungry.

"Out of the 22 (provinces), seven are in emergency phase four, and that is one level before declaring a famine," Bettina Luescher, a spokeswoman for the UN's World Food Program, was quoted by Daily Mail Online as saying 

The WFP is currently providing food to around seven million in Yemen each month, she said, pointing out though that they account for fewer than half the 17 million said to be going hungry.

The UN human rights agency said Friday that at least 4,773 civilians had been killed over the past two years.

The conflict has dramatically affected food supply, with around 60 percent of Yemen's population now considered to be struggling to find enough, up 20 percent from a year ago, Luescher said.

Source: MENA