Yemen Is Alone

By Aysha Syeda, Director of Expansion

Isolation, starvation, and trauma. These three words describe just the surface of Yemen’s problems, which just happens to be the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. This title is not new; in fact, it has been around since 2017 when the United Nations declared Yemen’s disastrous state. The humanitarian crisis originated from a civil war that sparked in 2014 when the Zaidi Shia Muslim minority formed the Houthi group in response to the possibility of becoming impoverished. With the help of Iran, the Houthis took advantage of Yemen’s weak president, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, and successfully proceeded to take control of Yemen's capital Sana’a. Concerned with Iran’s support, Saudi Arabia and UAE formed a coalition to restore the government’s power. The result was that the Houthis then controlled most of the north, while the alliance was able to gain back the south. It was in June when the people of Yemen felt the catastrophic effects of the civil war: the imposing of a blockade at Hudaydah port that cut essential supplies for almost two-thirds of the population.

Returning to present-day Yemen, about eighty percent of the population (24 million Yemenis) have been severely impacted by the ongoing civil war. Of the 24 million people, 10.2 million children do not have access to absolutely necessary aid. These innocent souls have been robbed of the luxury of education, and in some cases food and water for they are left to scramble to find scraps to eat. The healthcare system lacks vital equipment, and healthcare professionals are receiving no income for their services although they are doing the best with what they have. In addition to Yemen’s crisis, it faces a dangerous pandemic, COVID-19. Reflecting on the stability and reliability of the medical facilities, Yemen is nowhere near prepared to fight against the disease; instead, the health infrastructure is at the risk of collapsing. The worldwide spread of Covid-19 has wrecked some of the world’s best medical staff in well-established countries such as the United States and the UK. So, you can see where Yemen, a third-world collapsing country stands in the fight against this invisible enemy As UNICEF states, “Yemen is facing an emergency within an emergency.” To make things worse, the Middle Eastern country is fighting against cholera, which causes death if severe diarrhea is left untreated. Yemen’s lack of sanitation, clean water, health care, and educational facilities creates a grim future.

Although Yemen faces obstacle after obstacle, many organizations are rushing to provide sustenance. UNICEF is focusing on treating severe acute malnutrition in children through their therapeutic foods and medical supplies. “UNICEF has shipped 18,000 COVID-19 tests and more than 33,000 N95 respirators, 33,000 face shields, and 18,000 gowns…” (UNICEF, 2020). CARE has reached 3.4 million desperate Yemenis every year by providing reproductive care, emergency cash, food. UNHCR aims to ensure personal safety, shelter, and meals. People sitting at home, around the world, can also help through donating, fundraising, and signing petitions.

Regardless of who you are, no man, woman, or child deserves punishment for actions they did not take. Some people lack the morals and values that make us human, and it is because of these individuals hate and evil grow. However, Yemen is no longer alone. With the help of social media, donations, petitions, and awareness, we can restore the light into the lives of the Yemenis and regain hope that good still exists. So, do your part and join the cause by donating to Islamic Relief USA and signing a petition to aid Yemen. Please, just a small effort can make a big impact in a country which is on the verge of extinction for a fault that is not theirs, but rather because of greedy men in power who wish to take over a country which may no longer be there in a few years.

References

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“Yemen Crisis.” UNICEF, 22 July 2020, www.unicef.org/emergencies/yemen-crisis.

“Yemen Humanitarian Crisis.” CARE, 22 June 2020, www.care.org/our-work/disaster

response/emergencies/yemen-crisis/.

“Yemen Humanitarian Crisis.” Disasterphilanthropy.org, 2020,

disasterphilanthropy.org/disaster/yemen-humanitarian-crisis/.

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