Yemen: The World’s Worst Humanitarian Crisis
Suffering From War, Famine and COVID-19 in Silence
by Saira Khan
Yemen has been neglected by mainstream media since the beginning of the crisis. However its long history of war, famine and disease needs to be recognised and efforts need to be put in place to cease this suffering for the citizens of Yemen. This article will delve into how Yemen got to the state it is in today as well as resources on how we can make an impact.
Background to the Yemen Crisis
In Spring 2011, the Yemenis rose up against the President at the time, Ali Abdul Saleh. Saleh who described ruling Yemen as “dancing on the heads of snakes” was deemed to be a controversial political figure who swapped alliances and loyalties without consideration to the effects it may have on the citizens of Yemen. Protests broke out in attempts to overthrow Saleh. In 2015 Saudi Arabia became involved through an intervention by the Gulf Cooperation Council. The Gulf Cooperation Council is a political and economic alliance of all Arab states of the Persian Gulf except for Iraq.
They oversaw negotiations which resulted in Saleh being overthrown and his then Vice President, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, was made President. However, the Yemenis continued to suffer under Hadi’s rule. Massive rates of unemployment, food insecurity and suicide bombings sparked major unrest among citizens. Although the Houthi faction of Northern Yemen were heavily involved in the uprising against Saleh, after the G.C.C sidelined both of them, they formed an alliance against the new Hadi government. With increasing pressure coming from the Houthis, Hadi fled to Saudi Arabia which led to a Saudi led coalition with an aim of bringing Hadi back to power.
[Photo Source : (Yemen at risk of 'big famine': UN humanitarian chief, 2020) Hammadi Issa/AP ]
The Effect of the Saudi Arabia Led Coalition
The Saudi coalition resulted in 19,000 air strike attacks between 2015-2019 with frequent bombings that destroyed hospitals and schools. The Saudi Arabia coalition also caused a land, sea and air barrier to be erected around the border of Yemen.
This trapped the citizens inside the country with little to no aid being able to reach them. Doctors Without Borders (an international humanitarian NGO who provide medical treatment to countries in conflict or suffering from endemic diseases) were forced out of the country due to airstrikes. The lack of international assistance and aid accelerated the spread of a cholera outbreak. Famine and COVID-19 has plagued the lives of many with no hope of help as the Saudi enforced border shows no signs of easing. “Half of the health facilities have been destroyed by five years of conflict.”(Stone, 2020) The lack of testing equipment and medical supplies makes it difficult to determine the actual illness causing these deaths but whatever it is, Yemen has gone from no cases to hundreds. Last week alone “500 people died with Coronavirus like symptoms.”(Stone, 2020). An international shut down meant that the smallest amounts of aid that was being received.
Why The Silence?
The silence and lack of media coverage of the Yemen crisis can be due to a number of reasons. The fact that it has been occurring over a long period of time and therefore deemed ‘old news’ could be one of them. The Yemen crisis is categorised as a ‘political’ and ‘muslim’ issue by many, hence why some people aren’t interested and therefore it isn’t broadcasted. Another highly likely reason is that the crisis is being neglected by mainstream media to cover up the fact that international superpowers are at play in this proxy-war. With the U.S.A, U.K, and France being major players in the arms industry and supplying billions of dollars worth of logistical support and arms to those with the upper hand in this ‘civil war’, it is no surprise that this crisis hasn’t received as much attention as it should. With time being wasted with finger pointing and trying to pinpoint the blame of this war, citizens are suffering massively. Such is a civil war where the citizens cannot even fight back due to the disease and violence that rids them of a safe life.
Yemen is about to be wiped off the face of the earth in a civil war that is only destroying the lives of citizens and shows no signs of easing soon. Below are some resources that you can avail of to learn more about this issue. This cannot go on for any longer. We cannot let the people of Yemen suffer in silence anymore and let those in power get away with this.
Resources/Links for Further Reading
Islamic Relief Ireland has an emergency Yemen appeal. They have been providing aid in Yemen for over 20 years and are a reliable charity at ensuring the aid goes directly to those in need.
Muslimhands.org offer donation packages to feed children monthly.
Email representatives in government to address your concerns about this issue.
Save The Children are also doing a Yemen crisis appeal.
Note: Do not donate to UNICEF as there has been claims of them using donations to provide them with profit.
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