“The power of a five second memory,” from the earth shaking, to the ball of fire mushrooming in front of your eyes.
What’s happening in Yemen
4.24.2015 edition
By the Reported.ly Team
We are creating a daily rundown of events in Yemen as Saudi Arabian-led airstrikes against Houthis that began March 26 continue. The Houthi militia has been fighting the Yemeni government for nearly a decade, and in recent months has made enormous gains across the country, including capturing the capital, Sana’a.
For an explanation of what happened in the first few days of the military action, read our synopsis.
Update 1:30 a.m. ET (5:30 p.m. GMT)
Have the airstrikes stopped? No.
Coalition airstrikes against Houthi positions continued after the cessation of Operation Decisive Strike in Aden, Hodeida, Ibb and several other locations on Thursday, while a camp of Saleh loyalists in Taiz was reportedly bombed on Friday.
Nowhere is truly safe in Yemen, according to the ICRC’s head of operations, who visited Sana’a before the Saudi announcement. The Guardian published the testimony of an ICRC aid worker, who survived an airstrike in the capital.
“I recently learned the power of a five second memory. Five seconds, from the instant you feel the earth shaking, to the moment you see the ball of fire mushrooming in front of your eyes.”
Shortages everywhere
Reports of shortages in basic necessities continue to file in from around the country, as the ongoing blockade exacerbates the already dire food insecurity.
“The fighting and a Saudi-led blockade have deprived Yemenis of food, fuel, water and medicines, causing what a Red Cross official called a humanitarian catastrophe.” -NYT editorial
On Facebook, UNDP Yemen posted an account of a Sana’a resident unable to find flour and wheat to make bread, or gas for his car.
“At this moment, the future seems scary to me unless a miracle happens.”
UNICEF published grim, but conservative estimates on the impact of the conflict on children:
Local reports
Sana’a
Airstrikes on the capital appear to have paused after the Saudi announcement, but overflights of coalition jets, and anti-aircraft guns firing in response, are making residents nervous. Many of them are taking stock of the damage, others are repurposing the debris from the destruction into art.
Taiz
The conflict in Yemen’s third-largest city has been so intense in recent days, that even the transfer of dead bodies has become challenging.
A video published by Euronews on April 21 captures scenes of devastation reminiscent of Syria, as a battle involving a main battle tank and small arms rages.
