The crisis in Yemen has been ongoing for eight years, and it is getting worse every day. This conflict has caused devastating poverty and hunger throughout the country, leaving 24 million people in need of humanitarian aid. As a global community, we must take action to help end this crisis and save thousands of lives.
The Cause of the Crisis
The cause of the crisis in Yemen can be traced back to 2011 when popular uprisings across the Middle East led to an atmosphere of political instability in the region. In response, a civil war broke out between forces loyal to President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi and those loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who had been ousted from power. Since then, forces associated with Saudi Arabia have intervened on behalf of Hadi’s government while Iranian-backed Houthi rebels have allied themselves with Saleh’s forces. This situation has resulted in a vicious cycle of violence that shows no sign of abating anytime soon.
The Humanitarian Cost
The conflict in Yemen has placed an immense strain on its population, resulting in widespread poverty and hunger. According to UNICEF estimates, an estimated 20 million people are food insecure and 8 million are facing starvation due to the conflict. Beyond this, recent studies suggest that over 100,000 civilians have been killed or injured since 2015 as a direct result of the fighting. In addition to these issues, there is also a severe lack of access to medical care as well as water shortages which are putting even more strain on the population. Altogether, this situation has pushed 24 million people into needing humanitarian aid just to survive – making it one of the most severe crises currently facing our world today. The UN has described the crisis as “The worlds worst humanitarian crisis of our time”.
The Impact on Children and Families
The impact on children and families has been devastating. UNICEF says that around 462,000 children suffer from severe acute malnutrition while two million are at risk of starvation due to food insecurity. In addition to food insecurity, there is also a lack of access to essential services like healthcare and education which are needed for a child’s development.
As if these hardships weren't enough, many children have been forced to flee their homes due to violence between warring factions as well as air strikes by foreign militaries. This means that millions of Yemeni children are now living in poverty with little access to basic needs such as food or clean water – needs which are essential for survival.
The human tragedy that currently exists in the world is immense and devastating. According to statistics from the United Nations, there are 19.7 million people who need basic healthcare, eighteen million people who require access to clean water and sanitation facilities, four million people who have been forcibly displaced from their homes, and two point three million children under the age of five suffering severe malnutrition. Our societies have an urgent responsibility to take action in order to eradicate preventable illnesses, rid our communities of water-borne diseases and restore safety and comfort to those left vulnerable by displacement or lack of resources. Our global society must come together to provide protection against these extreme adversities before this human crisis reaches a catastrophic level.
What Can We Do?
An often overlooked but equally important way to help end this crisis is by raising awareness of what's happening in Yemen and encouraging others to take action as well. Share information about the crisis on social media, write letters or emails to elected officials urging them to take action, or join local protests calling for an end to the violence and increased humanitarian aid funding for those impacted by it. Every voice matters when it comes to helping end this humanitarian crisis!
While our efforts are already making an impact on communities across Yemen who are struggling each day just to survive there's still much more work that needs to be done. That's why we are calling on anyone who cares about creating positive change in this world to join us in our efforts by donating now so that we can continue providing necessary aid until each person affected by this crisis receives what they need most – a dignified life with access to basic necessities like food and clean water.
The pressing need for humanitarian aid in Yemen cannot be ignored any longer. As citizens we must act and help those affected by this crisis in whatever way we can. Here are some ways you can help:
It is our responsibility as citizens of this world to do whatever we can to ensure that every human being has access to basic needs like food, clean water, and healthcare - no matter their location or circumstance. If you want to make a difference, start today by learning more about this crisis and how you can help those affected by it.
Donate to Yemen Today
Yemen needs our help now more than ever before. We invite you all to join us in supporting Yemeni families as they struggle through some of their darkest days yet. Together we can make a difference - not only will you be helping provide immediate relief, but you'll also be giving families hope for a better future.
This Ramadan, ILM will continue to work on the ground helping as many people as possible in Yemen. Don’t overlook the needs of the Yemeni people and donate today.
