Yemen’s Humanitarian Crisis
What is going on in Yemen?
- Yemen is currently facing the world’s largest humanitarian crisis as a result of an ongoing war since 2015.
- Over 24 million people — 80% of the country’s population — need urgent humanitarian aid and protection including food, drinking water and healthcare.
- The country is battling a cholera epidemic, famine, and war, all of which have only been severely exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
- Only half of Yemen’s health facilities are functioning, and they lack PPE on top of medical equipment to support famine, cholera, and coronavirus patients.
Why is this happening?
Yemen is dealing with 3 main political conflicts:
1. Civil War
Houthis and Yemeni rebel groups with conflicting political interests have been clashing internally.
2. Saudi intervention (war with Iran)
Saudi Arabia has claimed Iran’s support of Houthi control to justify Saudi-Iranian conflict being fought out in Yemen.
3. US counter-terrorism initiatives
Al Qaeda presence in Yemen has been used to justify US-airstrikes of the region.
History
- In 2011, authoritarian president Ali Abdullah Saleh was forced on by an uprising.
- Abdrabbuh Monsour Hadi assumed power, but struggled with military, corruption, and food insecurity problems.
- The Shia militant group Houthi Rebels took control of Yemen’s capital, and forced Hadi into exile.
- In 2015, Saudi Arabia created on international coalition with the US, UK, and France to reinstate Hadi using military force and political and economic sanction. The coalition has airstriked Yemeni medical centers, water wells, drilling rings ,and even closed central banks leaving Yemen’s population struggling.
What is happening now?
- Houthis are still in control of Yemen.
- Yemeni people lack access to water, food, healthcare, and are in need of humanitarian aid.
- Tens of thousands of people have been killed and displaced since the war started in 2015.
- Houthis and Saudis have used food as a weapon of war, triggering widespread malnourishment, starvation, and hunger.
- A cholera epidemic since 2017 and now the COVID-19 pandemic has only worsened the situation.
How is the US involved?
- The US has backed the Saudi coalition by giving them weapons, aircraft, equipment, and training.
- The Trump Administration has decreased aid to Yemen despite pleas from humanitarian groups.
What can you do?
- Share news and stories about Yemen on your social media platforms.
- Stay educated on up-to-date on Yemeni news.
- Sign petitions.
- Donate at: UNICEF, Save the Children, Internal Rescue Committee, Project Hope, Islamic Relief, Baitul Maal, UN Refugees, and many more.
For more information:
Humanitarian crisis in Yemen remains the worst in the world, warns UN - UN
War in Yemen - ICRC
Yemen conflict explained in 400 words - BBC
Why is Yemen at war? | Start Here - Al Jazeera
The US may be aiding war crimes in Yemen - Vox
Yemen ravaged by coronavirus — intensifying world’s worst humanitarian crisis - BBC
Mass Starvation Is a Crime — It’s Time We Treated It That Way - Boston Review
