So... What's Going on in Yemen Right Now?

BY SOPHIA QIN

Here’s what you need to know. Yemen is the world’s most severe and devastating humanitarian crisis. Starvation, lack of sanitation, education, and humanitarian assistance run Yemen today as the Yemen crisis persists. On top of all this, COVID-19 has been seen to have a deadlier effect on Yemen than most other countries. 

historical background

The Yemen crisis began in 2011 with the revolution against the authoritarian President Ali Abdullah Saleh protesting the ecological disasters being overlooked. Subsequently, Ali Abdullah Saleh handed over power to his deputy, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, in 2011. As a new president, Hadi struggled to deal with many issues including attacks by jihadists, a separatist movement in the south, corruption, and unemployment.  The Houthi, a rebel group, saw Hadi’s weaknesses as an opportunity to take over the northern heartland of Saada province and neighboring areas. Ordinary Yemeni citizens began to support the Houthi movement and in 2014, the Houthi rebels took over the capital, Sanaa. As a result, President Hadi fled Yemen in 2015. However, Saudi Arabia and other mostly Sunni Arab states defeated the Houthis to end Iranian influence in Yemen and restore Mr Hadi's government. Since then, Mr. Hadi’s government continues to be too weak to provide basic needs to the people of Yemen and the Houthi rebels are continuing to siege territory and attack Saudi Arabia. 

Children of Yemen

Particularly, the children of Yemen are struggling. 2 million children are out of school and 10.3 million children don’t have enough food to eat. These children are subjected to live in a war-torn country full of violence. As a result, in Yemen, a child dies every 10 minutes from preventable causes due to the lack of infrastructure in the country. 

​YEMEN CRISIS AND COVID-19

COVID-19 has added to the people of Yemen’s suffering. For children and adolescents, All schools and Child-Friendly Spaces are closed. In addition, the healthcare system is not able to provide adequate care to many as it is already being overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases. Because of the war that started in 2015, proper healthcare, sanitation, and clean water is limited in Yemen which allows the virus to spread faster. Many of Yemen's 3,500 medical facilities have been damaged by the war, and only half are able to fully function. With the continuing conflict, vital food, medical and humanitarian supplies have been limited by a land, sea and air blockade put in place by a Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels. This has contributed to the startling COVID-19 death rate of 30% in Yemen. 

HOW YOU CAN HELP

24 million people there, about 80% of the population, depend on aid to survive, and millions are on the brink of starvation. This is why your donations and aid are vital. 
​
Donate here:

1. Yemen Crisis Fund by UNICEF: provide fuel for water stations, maintain sanitation and water infrastructure, and distribute basic family hygiene kits
2. Purchase a mask from @maskmatters on Instagram. They donate 100% of their profit to Save the Children’s Yemen fund
3. Project HOPE: working with MedGlobal to provide health care and fight COVID-19 and other devastating diseases in Yemen

To learn more about the Yemen crisis and find additional resources to help, visit yemencrisis.carrd.co.

If you do not have the means to donate, spread the word of the Yemen crisis on social media or even just to your friends and family.