Yemen faces one of the world’s most serious humanitarian crises since 2011, triggered by civil unrest and exacerbated by foreign intervention. The ongoing conflict has left millions internally displaced and in dire need of aid, with severe hunger and health issues widespread. Al Mutawakel, a Yemeni student, emphasizes the resilience of her countrymen and the urgent need for global attention to their plight.
The Yemen humanitarian crisis is one of the most severe global emergencies, having escalated since 2011 amidst the Yemeni participation in the Arab Spring. This movement contributed to a civil war, escalating further with the involvement of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which has led to the displacement of 4.5 million Yemeni citizens. According to Zainab Al Mutawakel, a Yemeni student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the kindness and resilience of the Yemeni people amid their hardships are commendable; they still prioritize helping others despite their suffering.
Al Mutawakel’s family experienced significant upheaval, moving from Egypt to Malaysia and eventually to the United States in 2019. She expressed feelings of disconnection due to the constant relocations and the lack of family support nearby. While many of her relatives remain in Yemen, they are grappling with extreme economic difficulties due to the ongoing blockade which restricts essential resources like food and healthcare.
The conflict’s origin traces back to the Houthi movement, which rose due to feelings of political marginalization and overthrew the Yemeni government in 2014. By 2015, Saudi Arabia intervened to restore the previous government, leading to a complex and ongoing regional conflict. David Mednicoff, a Middle Eastern studies expert, notes that the conflict receives little media coverage, often oversimplified in reports focusing only on military actions without addressing the humanitarian impact.
The United Nations reports over 233,000 fatalities resulting from the crisis, primarily due to indirect causes such as malnutrition and inadequate medical care. Currently, approximately 21.6 million individuals in Yemen urgently require humanitarian assistance, with 17.6 million suffering from severe hunger, highlighting significant nutritional challenges, particularly for children.
Access to clean water remains critical, with only 30 percent of the population having such facilities. This deficiency has led to widespread cholera outbreaks, with 2.5 million cases reported. Al Mutawakel highlighted that although a ceasefire was established in 2022, the reality on the ground remains dire, with ongoing travel restrictions exacerbating the plight of the Yemeni people.
Al Mutawakel discussed the significant obstacles faced by Yemenis attempting to leave the country due to high travel costs and visa challenges stemming from possessing Yemeni passports. She emphasized the urgent need for global awareness regarding the situation in Yemen and called for increased attention to the struggles of less advantaged populations.
Currently, Al Mutawakel is potentially the only Yemeni student at her university, yet she strives for academic success to honor her heritage. She expressed the guilt of being able to pursue education, recognizing that many compatriots lack such opportunities. Al Mutawakel urges greater awareness of the humanitarian crisis, stressing, “I just wish people would spread awareness about the humanitarian crisis and make it more of a priority to help these people, because they literally can’t do anything. They’re just trying to survive.”
The humanitarian crisis in Yemen continues to escalate due to a prolonged civil war, leading to widespread displacement, hunger, and disease among the population. While the international community expresses concern, the geopolitical dimensions of the conflict often overshadow the pressing humanitarian needs. The resilience of the Yemeni people, as highlighted by individuals like Zainab Al Mutawakel, underscores the dire necessity for global awareness and action to alleviate their suffering.
Original Source: dailycollegian.com
