Special Report: What’s Happening in Yemen?

(Disclaimer: La Tonique Media LLC does not represent any political ideology. While we do not espouse any political beliefs, we do seek to provide a balance perspective by incorporating voices from both sides of the political spectrum.)

By Elaine Sanderson

A brutal five-year conflict has led to the development of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Conflict between pro and anti-government forces has led to Yemeni civilians bearing the brunt of unlawful practices, and violations of international humanitarian law. Whilst worldwide front page news consists of the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing climate emergencies, the people of Yemen have been forgotten. 

Statistics from the UNHCR

• 80% of the population requires humanitarian assistance

• 2 in 3 Yemenis can’t afford to buy food

• Over 1 million cholera cases since 2018

• 70% of the population lack access to food, clean water and adequate healthcare

• Millions of internally displaced Yemenis live in makeshift shelters in urban and rural areas

What is the Houthi movement?

Taking their name from Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi, a former member of the Yemeni parliament–who rebelled against President Saleh and was subsequently killed in 2004–the Houthis chose fighting corruption against central and pro-government forces as the foundation of their movement. They adopted the slogan “God is great, death to the U.S., death to Israel, curse the Jews, and victory to Islam” in response to the American invasion of Iraq, a turning point of increased tensions seemingly ignored by the West. 

A timeline of events

Yemen’s most current plight began during the Arab Spring. Demonstrations took place in the capital of Sana’a against President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the regime that had been in place for 33 years.

2011 - The Houthis spark mass protests alongside the Arab Spring (pro-democracy protests across the Arab world). Saleh resigns. 


2012 - Saleh’s deputy, Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi is inaugurated as president. Change regarding corruption is minimal. President Hadi spurs on the Houthi agenda by releasing a federal map that partitioned Yemen. 

2014 - Houthis seize control of the capital, Sana’a. 

2015 - The Houthi movement successfully dissolves parliament, choosing to form an alliance with Saleh. President Hadi joins forces with Saudi Arabia and the UAE after being forced to flee Yemen, forming the Arab coalition (SLC). They launch an aerial bombing against the Houthis–the beginning of the ongoing civil war. 

Militants loyal to Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi on patrol in Aden, Yemen 2015

Reuters-Stringer

2016 - The Iranian backed Houthi movement forms a government in Sana’a. An airstrike by the SLC destroys a Medecins Sans Frontieres hospital in Hajjah killing 19 people.

2017 - The Houthis fire a missile at King Khalid International Airport northeast of the Saudi capital, Riyadh. It is intercepted by the Saudi government. The SLC carry out airstrikes over Sana’a and block humanitarian aid planes from landing in Yemen. Ex-President Saleh is assassinated by the Houthis trying to flee Yemen. 

2018 - Peace talks take place in Sweden between the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels, mediated by the United Nations. The UN special envoy Martin Griffths, members of the Houthi movement and representatives of Yemen’s government take part. A ceasefire is reached for the port city of Hodeidah. 

2020 - At least 116 people are killed in a ballistic missile attack on Yemeni government forces by the Houthis, threatening the fragile prospect of peace. Houthis launch a military offensive on oil rich-Marib. As Marib is the last stronghold of the internationally recognised government, government forces try to push back the Houthis. 

The future? - Potential peace efforts are likely to collapse if the Houthis take Marib. Chances of negotiations are slim if they garner control of the last Hadi stronghold.

The impact of the West

As it stands, Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest arms importer, the majority coming from the US, UK, France, Canada, Spain, Italy and Germany.

In the Human Rights Watch 2019 world report, it was stated that since 2015, 90 “apparently unlawful Saudi/UAE-led Coalition attacks” on civilian homes, educational and health facilities, businesses and gatherings were carried out. There was evidence of US and UK-origin munitions. The US previously provided support to coalition attacks through targeted intelligence and air refuelling. 

Smoke and debris from a Saudi-led air strike in Sanaa, Yemen, 2016

Reuters-Khaled Abdullah

The UK Court of Appeal said the selling of arms to Saudi Arabia was unlawful and the government subsequently suspended the sales in 2019. In July 2020, the government greenlit the resumption, concluding that Saudi airstrikes did not break international humanitarian law. Training for members of the SLC was also provided by the UK. Through tactical, logistic and economic support, western nations are effectively aiding in the destruction of Yemeni life. 

What does this mean for the people of Yemen?

Not only are they facing a civil war consisting of military violence and state malpractice, they are having to deal with a lack of medicine, a cholera epidemic and limited food. Even prior to the turmoil, they were the poorest of the Arab nations.

Currently, they are experiencing the world’s worst humanitarian crisis as a result of existing poverty rates and a substantial lack of food. Two-thirds of all Yemenis are hungry. As reported by the United Nations, an estimated 24.1 million people, a staggering 80% of the population, are in need of aid, with 46,660 families newly displaced in 2019 alone. 

Saida Ahmad Baghili, 18, in the al-Thawra hospital in Houdieda, Yemen 2016

Reuters-Abduljabbar Zeyad

Healthcare System

A report in 2019 stated Yemen’s healthcare system as being on the brink of collapse. It takes a look at the case of nine-year-old Luai, diagnosed as severely malnourished and having anaemia. With medicine scarce, the doctor was only able to provide multivitamins and iron supplements. A short term solution for a long term problem. When Luai is taken home, he once again arrives at the prospect that he is rationed for food–the cycle continues, as it does for many Yemeni children. A third of under 5’s in Yemen are acutely malnourished. 

According to UNICEF, almost 600,000 pregnant women have limited or no access to healthcare provisions. Due to the staggering amount not able to reach a healthcare centre, the charity has stopped recording the infant mortality rate in Yemen. 

Cholera Epidemic

The World Health Organization suggests the cumulative total number of suspected cholera cases from 1 January 2018 to 12 January 2020 is 1,246,230, with 110,000 people having contracted cholera in 2020 alone.  

A recent report from USAID and the John Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health concluded that the ongoing conflict was likely “a major contributor to the maintenance of the infectious ecosystem of cholera in Yemen.”

Coronavirus

A long-term pandemic could potentially be the tipping point for the already fragile healthcare system. Medical engineer, Luai Taha al Mahbashi, in an interview with Sky News said "Yemen is going to be deleted from maps all over the world. The situation is really dangerous."  As of October 2020, Yemen has 2,051 confirmed coronavirus cases with a fatality rate of around 27%. However, the true numbers are likely going undetected due to limited testing capabilities and the myriad of other issues facing the nation. 

Ultimately, this is a country torn apart by war, the consequence being the depletion of normal Yemeni civilian life. A lost generation of children face severe malnourishment instead of an education. What we see is a country in need of desperate assistance. Instead, their suffering is being enhanced by the ongoing sale of arms. This is a conflict that millions of innocent people have been involuntarily trapped in.

Elaine is a political writer for La Tonique. You can follow Elaine on Twitter @sando_99.