Recent Developments
A power sharing deal has been agreed between the Hadi government, recognised internationally as the government of Yemen, and the Southern Transitional Council (STC) – the latter who are seeking an independent South Yemen. The agreement, amongst other things, provides that a new government of 24 ministers will be formed split equally between the Hadi government and the STC.
The new government will allow the STC to participate in negotiations as the conflict between the government and the STC comes to an end. The agreement will also allow the government to focus on ending the war against the Houthi rebels who have taken over the Northern parts of Yemen, as it aims to have both parties unite to combat the rebels.
Background
The Yemen war started in 2014 when the Houthis fought to take control of Sanaa, the capital of Yemen. The current President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi and his cabinet were detained before they fled to Saudi Arabia, as they denied demands for lower fuel prices and are now demanding a new government.
In 2015, the Saudi Arabian-led coalition - supported by the US, UK, UAE, and France - launched airstrikes against the Houthi’s to assist the Hadi government to restore its power within the country.
The Houthis managed to take control of the North including Saada, Amran, Hajjah, Sanaa, and part of Taiz.
The Houthis were supporters of the former President Ali Abdullah Saleh until December 2017 when conflict arose, resulting in the Houthis killing the former President.
Airstrikes
Since the war began, airstrikes have been the cause of approximately 100,000 deaths.
According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) data, approximately 67% of civilians have been killed by Saudi-led airstrikes destroying schools, homes, mosques, and hospitals.
It has been reported by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs that 388 civilians were killed or injured during September 2019, making it one of the deadliest months since the war began. There has been one incident where an airstrike bombed a mosque, killing 7 civilians and another strike on a house, killing 15 civilians, including children.
Water, Food and Medicine Shortages
The Houthis obtained their weapons from Iran due to the restrictions Saudi Arabia have placed at sea, air, and land ports, commonly known as the ‘Blockade of Yemen’.
As a result of the blockade, there has been a lack of food, water and medicine available for civilians. There is now a huge famine problem within Yemen as adults and children are dying from malnourishment and diseases like cholera, which is caused by contaminated food and water.
There are millions of civilians who are at risk of death due to the supply shortage. Civilians are unable to obtain proper healthcare as a result of the overwhelming number of people who are suffering from very poor health.
Due to these restrictions, humanitarian assistance is largely unable to reach the roughly 24.1 million people in need, thus making Yemen arguably the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.
After having completed the Bar Professional Training Course (2018), Safia currently working as a Costs Advisor in a law firm. Her life goal is to make a positive change in the society we live in, no matter how small that change might be.