Yemen is one of the poorest, driest, and least developed countries in the world. With grey, polluted skies stretching on for miles, bombs are being dropped upon innocent civilians, leaving their homes destroyed and thousands of families in disarray as they lose their loved ones to the civil war. For most stuck there, wishes of a world that isn’t crashing down around them and a world where famine doesn’t disfigure their bodies from the inside out are often voiced, but also unheard.
The tragedy started with a disagreement in political development. In the beginning of 2011, thousands of pro-democracy protesters took to the streets of Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, chanting slogans in support of a democratic government and the condemnation of property and official corruption in efforts to remove President Ali Abed Allah Saleh, who struggled with any and all conflicts that arose. These included attacks by al-Qaeda, unemployment, and food insecurity.
He refused to resign, however, due to an internationally-brokered deal, Saleh’s 33-year rule was put to an end and power was thus transferred onto Vice President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi; this sparked a revolution by Houthi rebels in the North. Pro-government forces led by President Hadi and anti-government forces led by the Houthis, who are backed by former President Saleh, are now fighting for control over Yemen starting a brutal civil war.
By Oct 29, 2017 over 5,000 civilians had been killed –20% of them being children– and almost 9,000 were injured according to the UN, with air strikes being the leading cause. Also, a result of coalition airstrikes, along with naval blockades, an estimate of seven million people are on the brink of famine in Yemen as 80% of the country’s food is imported. In Yemen, there has also been report of the world’s worst cholera outbreak, having been contracted by 400,000 and killing approximately 1,900.
Due to civilian infrastructure and restrictions on food, medicine and fuel imports have also caused what the UN labels as a “catastrophic” humanitarian situation. There are now more than 20 million people, including 11 million children, that are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.
