The Cost of War 2

 

Yemen enters its eighth year of war and international humanitarian groups expressed concern about the state of crisis gripping Yemenis—reporting that civilian deaths are on the rise, millions are facing severe hunger and malnutrition, and three-quarters of the population is in urgent need of humanitarian support. Many have highlighted the lack of international outcry over the Yemen crisis compared to the current war and refugee crisis in Ukraine.

According to the International Rescue Commitee, over 19,000 civilians have been killed or injured from airstrikes alone since the beginning of the conflict in 2015. January of this year saw the most casualties in one month since the war began—with 139 civilian fatalities and 187 civilians injured. Over 300,000 have died as a result of the more than seven years of fighting, and over four million people have been forced to flee from violence over the same time period.

Oxfam International warned that another year of war would bring "unimaginable suffering to civilians," and "almost two-thirds of Yemenis will go hungry this year unless the warring parties lay down their arms."

"Yemenis are desperate for peace—instead they are facing yet more death and destruction. Violence and hunger are on the increase once more and millions of people cannot get the basics their families need," said Ferran Puig, Oxfam's country director in Yemen. "Yemen desperately needs a lasting peace so people can rebuild their lives and livelihoods," said Puig. "Without peace the cycle of misery will continue and deepen. Until then, adequate funding for humanitarian aid is critical."

The Yemen humanitarian response plan is currently 70% underfunded and has left 17 million people facing acute food insecurity, with predictions the number will rise to 19 million by the end of 2022.

In addition to food, water, and healthcare shortages, Yemen's infrastructure has also been ravaged by the war. 

"Violence has also severely damaged civilian infrastructure. Despite protection under international humanitarian law, over 25,000 schools have been damaged or destroyed and the number of out of school children has more than doubled since the start of the war—from 900,000 to over 2 million," said the International Rescue Commitee (IRC) in a statement. "The economic crisis means two-thirds of teachers have not been paid in over four years and 10,000 children have been killed or injured since the start of the war. Only 50% of hospitals in Yemen are fully functional, with ever increasing health issues prevalent in the general population."

Yemen Faces 'Unimaginable Suffering' as US-Backed Saudi War Enters Eighth Year (commondreams.org)