The War on Children: The Biggest Victims of the Yemeni Crisis
Meet ten year old Rania. She loves school, reading books and playing soccer with her friends. She is also living in the midst of the largest humanitarian crisis in the world.
Rania’s life is the tragic reality for many children caught in the crossfire of the Yemeni Civil War. Yemen is in the middle of a devastating blockade enforced by Saudi Arabia. This means that all goods being imported to the country are unable to get in; and given that approximately ninety percent of food, medicine, and other goods in Yemen are imported, this is a catastrophic blow to the population. As a result of Yemen’s crumbling economic state, the most vulnerable members of society, children, have become the most effected population of this humanitarian crisis.
Children of War
The United Nations has reported that Yemen is suffering from the fastest growing cholera outbreak in history and the biggest food crisis. Cholera is caused by drinking contaminated water. 895,000 cases have been documented in the country as of November 1st. The UN also has revealed that over half of these documented cholera cases are children and twenty-seven percent of these cases are children under the age of five. Seven million people are in need of urgent care due to the food shortages. Since the blockade is stopping goods from getting into the country, the small amounts of food and supply are subject to hyperinflation. Unfortunately, the citizens of Yemen are also in danger of airstrikes and militant attacks.
The rampant poverty rates and severity of the war has left a countless number of Yemenis desperate for money and food to keep their families alive. The devastating circumstances have left many children with only two future paths: marrying into a family that can better provide for them or joining combat. Families who marry off their children (most often girls under the age of 18) can be given a dowry. UNICEF has found that 32% of girls in Yemen will be married before the age of eighteen. Similarly, the families of children enlisted in combat are compensated. Houthi militants are offering a monthly salary for families willing to send their boys off to the front lines.
The Root of the War
The cause of the atrocities taking place today can be dated back to a conflict beginning in 2011. Citizens began fiercely protesting the President Ali Abed Allah Saleh after 33 years of rule, calling for his resignation. Once President Saleh stepped down from power, his successor, Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, was faced with many conflicts: Al Qaeda attacks, the military heads swearing their loyalty to the former president Saleh, high poverty rates, and a movement calling for a secession of South Yemen. Mr. Hadi’s inadequate dealings with these issues and the lack of unity in the country left Yemen vulnerable to attacks.
The Opposing Sides of the Fight
The Houthis/Saleh Loyalists: In 2014, a rebel group known as the Houthi gained control of Yemen’s capital, Sana’a. By the end of the year, Houthis and Saleh Loyalists moved to take over all of Yemen and bring back Saleh’s rule.
Hadi Loyalists/Saudi Arabian Powers: When Houthi took over Sana’a, Hadi and other government officials fled the capital. This is when Saudi Arabia stepped in, declaring this a direct threat to their safety (because it could allow Iran to gain power of Saudi’s border). Although Iran powers deny this claim, Saudi Arabia has been leading a powerful and destructive coalition to restore President Hadi’s ruling since 2014. The Hadi Loyalists have gained control of south Yemen, but has yet to secure the Northern part which includes the capital city Sana’a and the main sea port at Hodeidah. For this reason, Saudi Arabia is enforcing the blockade at the Northern port.
While big government powers and rebel groups on all sides are refusing to back down, civilians living in both the Northern and Southern parts of Yemen are suffering the most severe consequences.
The Geography of the Conflict
What Can You Do To Help?
Currently, there is a limited amount of aid reaching the people of Yemen, but donating to organizations fighting to assist those effected by the Civil War can help the future progress of the nation. Foundation websites such as Mercy Corps, Girls Not Brides, Amnesty International, and Baitulmaal provide more information on helping the cause.
Sources
Alyssa Cogan Digital Content Team. “Quick Facts: What You Need to Know about the Crisis in Yemen.” Mercy Corps, 9 Nov. 2017, www.mercycorps.org/articles/yemen/quick-facts-what-you-need-know-about-crisis-yemen.
“Yemen: The World’s Largest Humanitarian Crisis.” Yemen News | Al Jazeera, www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/07/yemen-world-largest-humanitarian-crisis-170703130224623.html.
“Yemen Crisis: Who Is Fighting Whom?” BBC News, BBC, 20 Nov. 2017, www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29319423.
Youssef, Nour. “2 Paths for Yemen’s War-Scarred Children: Combat, or Marriage.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 9 Oct. 2017, www.nytimes.com/2017/10/09/world/middleeast/yemen-war-children.html
