Yemen Crisis
You would think that year 2020 is bursting at the seams with the struggles and suffering across the world, however the situation in Yemen cannot be ignored. Being the most vulnerable and poorest country in the Arab region, Yemen was widely exposed to the impacts of COVID-19 given the humanitarian crisis gripping the area. Intense violent political unrest has gripped the country for most of 2020, with widespread malnutrition, two million cholera cases, crowded refugee camps and an almost non-existent healthcare system in early April.
The United Nations has estimated that US$2.4 billion is required in humanitarian aid; only $1.35 billion has been donated. It stems from fears of funding the Iran-supported army group the Houthis will interfere with the aid that controls northern Yemen. From this, food rations for 8.5 million Yemenis have halved, 10, 000 health care workers have lost their jobs and the 400 hospitals and health care centres are at risk of having little funding to operate.
This dire situation has peaked during the Coronavirus pandemic. Amongst the frequent airstrikes and a healthcare system on the brink of collapse, the Houthis also continue to deny the existence of COVID-19 despite its rapid spread across the nation. It is therefore not monitored, causing considerable damage.
Saudi Arabia has continued to fund the raging unrest with billions of dollars, which is further fuelling the humanitarian crisis. Prior to the pandemic, 24.1 million required humanitarian assistance, 2 million children suffer from malnutrition and since the pandemic, 5 million are now not at school. In the first two weeks of May, it was reported that there has been 950 Coronavirus related deaths but given there is limited testing availability, 2, 678 of the 28 million Yemenis have been testing as of May 30.
A large issue exists with the lack of basic access to masks, protective equipment and gowns. One of Yemen’s most respected infectious disease experts died earlier this month from COVID-19, along with many other medics fighting to save patients from the illness.
The humanitarian crisis has seen Yemenis flee the country for a better shot at life. For a 17 year old Mohammed living in Aden, his father lost his job as a delivery driver in Saudi Arabia of 20 years earlier in March, losing the monthly $265 they needed to survive as a family. They now rely on Mohammed’s $45 a month he earns part time working in a 36 degree store stocking fridges with juice, despite minimal electricity.
The dwindling of funds and aid being provided to Yemen is fuelling the conditions its people are suffering amongst, coupled with the COVID-19 outbreak. Millions are malnourished, and further exposed to contracting the illness through its lack of testing availability. Given the unrest and the financial despair faced by Yemen with just $200 million remaining in May from a Saudi loan of $2 billion in 2018, circumstances continue to diminish unless financial funding is provided.
To donate: https://www.unrefugees.org.au/donate/?utm_code=OAWGDO0020&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=AU_PS_EN_general_UNHCR_Generic&gclid=CM6HorvelOoCFRcUjgodus8JRQ