The ongoing crisis in Yemen has resulted in a country facing famine, with almost two million children ‘acutely malnourished,’ and the widespread destruction of infrastructure, including water and sanitation facilities which have set the stage for a widespread cholera outbreak — 400 000 possible cases in the last three months. Much needs to be done to address both the crisis itself and its.
results.

This week, the heads of UNICEF, the World Food Programme, and the World Health Organization visited the country to see the humanitarian crisis and the NGO and local authority responses for themselves. They also met with authorities, urging greater support for both NGO efforts to address the crisis and work towards a peaceful solution to the situation. A joint WHO/UNICEF/WFP statement summarizes their experience.

Recent articles have expanded on the full scope of the situation in Yemen: ‘A children’s crisis’: now 80% of all kids in Yemen are in need (The Guardian), Yemen factions said to have pledged easing aid (Associated Press), and Yemen’s severely starved children now threatened by world’s worst cholera outbreak (ITV).

The latest issue of Mondial includes the article, Yemen: Effective Humanitarian Aid Depends on a Peace Accord by Rene Wadlow, president of the Association of World Citizens. Wadlow suggests a way forward out of the current situation: “The effort to create a centralized Yemen government has failed. The future lies in a very decentralized government with great autonomy for the regions, taking into consideration the diverse tribal configuration of the country.” Read the entire article.