Adding to the woes is a collapse of the country’s already-weak medical infrastructure. Some people sell all their belongings to afford medication, and few can afford to travel to the remaining health facilities. “People in Yemen are dying today not just because of the bullets and bombs but because they are unable to receive the medical care they need to stay alive,” says Dr. Ahmed Al Mandhari of the World Health Organization.
A cholera outbreak also has occurred, with 1.2 million suspected or confirmed cases in Yemen since April 2017. The preventable disease has claimed more than 2,500 lives.
The economic impact has been dire, as well. More than 600,000 jobs have been lost since the conflict began, and Yemen’s gross domestic product has been slashed by 50 percent. At least 80 percent of inhabitants now live below the poverty line.
Yemen faced widespread poverty even before the war, and almost all the nation’s food is imported. “Barriers to importing and distributing supplies have severely restricted the amount of food getting into and around the country,” says Bhatnagar. “And in markets where food is actually available, ordinary people simply can’t afford to buy it, as salaries have been unpaid for months, and the currency has collapsed in value.”
“Yemen can’t wait any longer,” says the IRC’s McManus. “History will judge those who could have acted to prevent the looming tragedy in Yemen but failed to do so.”
Oxfam representative Richard Stanforth also decries the lack of action. “It’s astounding that today the international community can sit on its hands and, in fact, allow and facilitate this famine,” he says.
What Can We Do?
Pray that diplomatic solutions are reached, putting an end to the fighting, air raids and roadblocks. Pray that suffering people receive much-needed food and medical care. Spread the word about what’s happening in Yemen—and about organizations providing aid. Contribute, as you’re able, to reputable groups. Use these links to get information about making donations:
- Save the Children, Yemen Children’s Relief Fund
- International Rescue Committee
- UNICEF USA
- Oxfam America
- Mercy Corps
- Christian Aid Ministries
- Catholic Relief Services
- World Food Program USA
- Doctors Without Borders
“God has created each person on this earth with purpose, dignity and worth,” says Nate Harper of World Relief Germany. “Whenever he sees people suffering, his heart is broken. But he has also given people, like myself, resources and abilities, and I need to steward them in such a way that actually supports those in need, whether it is in my own neighborhood or halfway across the world.”
