On Thursday, United Nation warned that 24 million people in Yemen, i.e., 80% of the population needs assistance and protection. On Friday, the Trump administration cut off tens of millions of dollars for health care programmes and other aids. It was confirmed by the American officials that it was an important step as the Houthi Rebels have been controlling the Northern part of Yemen past five years, but given the tragedies happening every minute, holding off a good amount of money for the people is quite insensitive as well.
Life in Yemen
Yemen is facing economic collapse. The food prices are hitting the sky and they are not easy accessible. Not only the prices are raising but there have been dramatic fluctuations in the Riyal. Twenty million people across the country are food insecure and half of them are suffering from acute level of hunger.
Yemen was also hit by the world’s worst cholera outbreak. The affects are immense and it took shelter among 1.3 million people. It caused 2800 deaths. The people in the country have been facing difficulties in finding clean water for cooking or washing clothes. To be alive at the end of the night is a real nightmare stuck in their minds. The rise in the level of cholera, malaria, diarrhoea etc., has caused massive malnutrition crisis. The health system of the country is on the brink of death as well. There is shortage of food supplies, medical supplies, shortage of fuel etc. In short, the country is falling apart.
During the past four-five years, the intense conflict between the government forces and the Houthi Rebels have left tens of thousands dead or injured including 17,700 civilians as verified by the UN. Sixty five percent of the people in the country are facing catastrophic food gaps who have been living in four governorates: Hajjah, Hudayah, Sa’ada and Taizz. According to a report, these four areas have faced most of the fighting and now they face the struggle of living.
Humanity above all is just a saying for the government now. The funds should be raised before the situation gets worsen by the affects of corona virus. According to the Head of Humanitarian Policy in Oxfam America, Scott Paul.. “This is the country that has already experienced two biggest cholera outbreak in recent history. With the way things are now, to just take a wait and see attitude borders on reckless..”
Till now, the country is at least not affected by the virus, there has been no confirmed cases but the chance of survival is still at the verge because of the health care system. According to Su’ad Jarbawi, Middle East regional director for Mercy Corps, “With … people teetering on the brink of famine, Yemen simply cannot afford any additional obstacles, even a short period of reduced humanitarian access will have catastrophic consequences.”
The American officials also decided to halt the funding and cutting around $70 million in assistance which was destined for the Northern part of Yemen. The southern part is relatively less populous and still receives the dollars. The officials also blamed the Houthis for this tragedy in the life of Yemenis. One of them said, “We are concerned that the Houthis have caused millions of people to loose their access to lifesaving humanitarian assistance and worsened the effects of Yemen’s humanitarian crisis. The corona virus pandemic demonstrates now more than ever the need for our partners in Yemen to be able to deliver the aid to those who need it most without interference or delay…”
TO CONCLUDE, the country is facing war, a war for life, for health, for hygiene. Not only the government should step up, they should increase their funding and build better health care and sanitation facilities. More than a million people have been displaced from their homes. And it is not wrong to say that, instead of ending the catastrophe the policymakers are promoting the fight and are ignoring the sufferings of the people. The politics between the war is suffered by the people and who is to say it is going to stop soon. The UN has issued a global call for the armed groups to stand down during the pandemic. The Houthis are now facing a choice: either to stand down and side with the UN or remain a proxy to the Iranian regime in the region. Let’s see what the future holds for the Yemenis.
By Yumna Fatima
Literary Sources: Washington Post, BBC News, UN News.