The ongoing war in Yemen, which started in 2015, has left 24 million people - 80% of the population - in need of urgent humanitarian aid. The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded this crisis.

WITHOUT FUNDING, UN AID PROGRAMMES WILL STOP

The United Nations (UN) has raised concerns about how the deadly virus will affect Yemen if substantial financial aid is not provided to the country. In a bid to swiftly raise funds, Saudi Arabia and the UN hosted a fundraising conference with a target of $2.4 billion (£1.9 billion). Unfortunately, they missed this target by $1 billion, despite the attendance of 130 governments. Unless money is found, out of the “41 major UN programmes in Yemen, more than 30 will close…This means people will die.” The UN-run aid agencies assist more than “10 million people every month,” but without the world’s assistance in tackling the humanitarian crisis, the number of people who receive aid will fall drastically. 

YEMEN IS FIGHTING A WAR, AS WELL AS THE VIRUS 

In April 2020, COVID-19 hit Yemen. As of 26 June 2020 “there have been 1,076 confirmed cases…with 288 deaths”. The real figure is likely a lot higher, but due to the restrictions and limited access to healthcare, not everyone can be tested and treated in a timely manner. 

Just before the arrival of the novel coronavirus, the Saudi-led coalition introduced a two-week ceasefire. However, this did not stop the Houthis from conducting airstrikes. The truce was breached “241 times in 48 hours”. Had the truce been respected, it could have allowed the passage of urgent humanitarian aid to reach the most vulnerable. Yet due to the ongoing attacks, the ceasefire was not extended and once again, Yemen is trying to battle the virus amidst the horrific war. 

MORE THAN HALF OF THOSE IN NEED OF URGENT AID ARE CHILDREN

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has reported that “tens of thousands more children could develop life-threatening severe acute malnutrition over the next six months, while the overall number of malnourished children under the age of five could increase to a total of 2.4 million”. Yemen needs 54.5 million dollars to combat this. If the country does not receive the funds by August 2020, approximately “23,500 children with severe acute malnutrition will be at increased risk of dying”.

Without funding, Yemen will experience further famine, including the loss of supplemental nutrition programs for children and mothers. The country will also face shortages or the loss of acute malnourishment treatment centres for children, water and sanitation aid, family reunification services, essential medical care including surgery, and services for displaced peoples and refugees.  

Prior to COVID-19, the situation in Yemen was classed as the “worst humanitarian crisis in the world”. It now looks set to worsen. Whilst the rest of the world begins to ease lockdown, the people of Yemen remain in a state of emergency.

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.

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