Effects of Yemen's Conflicts

A civil war is currently ongoing in Yemen. Although tension between the Houthis and the Yemeni government has persisted for years, the civil war officially began in 2014. In 2012, due to both internal and external pressure, the previous president of Yemen stepped down. This resulted in Hadi taking his place. As the new president grappled with the responsibilities conferred to him by his transition to power, the Houthis saw an opportunity to strike. Gradually, the Houthis took over a large portion of Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa.

The current crisis in Yemen originated in 2015. After Hadi fled the country, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates led a coalition aimed at stopping the Houthis and restoring Hadi to power. Eventually, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States chose to back the coalition. Ground troops from the coalition landed in Yemen and drove the Houthis out of much of the south, but the Houthis did not give up the capital. Not only did the coalition contribute thousands of ground troops, but they also launched air campaigns against the Houthis. Later on, Hadi signed a deal with the Southern Transitional Government, effectively creating a new Yemeni government. However, drones attacked the cabinet members soon after the formation of the new government. The attack was blamed on the Houthis.

All of this conflict caused some people to classify Yemen as the largest humanitarian crisis in the world. Over the past six years, tens of thousands of people have been killed in Yemen’s civil war, and many of them were civilians. Millions of additional citizens were left starving, relying on humanitarian relief. Besides the widespread food insecurity, people in Yemen are also suffering from diseases. Thousands of cholera cases have been reported, and COVID-19 is also an issue. Only half of healthcare facilities remain in operation, and many of them lack basic supplies such as masks and gloves. The attacks made by both sides of the war destroyed infrastructure and forced businesses to close, causing citizens to lose their income. Even people who still have their jobs have not been paid their salaries in full and on time.

Children in particular are negatively affected by the conflict. Yemeni children are being born amid a war they know nothing about. Instead of the normalcy they need, these children are forced to survive in an environment of stress, desperation, and even danger. Often, children are killed or injured due to the conflict, and those who don't suffer from malnutrition. Since a large portion of schools has closed, millions of children aren’t receiving proper education. To make matters worse, aid programs for Yemen may have to close unless more funding is received. This will likely prove devastating for Yemeni citizens, as the majority of them rely on humanitarian aid. Already, some organizations have cut down their deliveries in response to the lack of funding. However, we can still make a difference. To help people in Yemen, please consider donating to the charities listed below.

Charities

• Help Children in Yemen

• Humanitarian Relief for Yemen

• Provide Clean Water and Humanitarian Aid to Yemen

Works Cited

• Human Rights Watch. (n.d.). Yemen. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2021/country-chapters/yemen#

• Robinson, K. (2021, February 5). Yemen’s tragedy: War, stalemate, and suffering. Council on Foreign Relations. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/yemen-crisis

• UNICEF. (2019, September 20). Born into conflict: Threats beyond front lines. https://www.unicef.org/stories/born-conflict-threats-beyond-front-lines

• UNICEF. (n.d.). Yemen crisis. https://www.unicef.org/emergencies/yemen-crisis

• Yaakoubi, A., & Landay, J. (2021, June 24). Aid programs for Yemen under threat without increased funding- US envoy. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/aid-programs-yemen-will-begin-closing-without-increased-funding-us-envoy-2021-06-24/