BMUN LXIX AL

  Hey Everyone! In this blog post we will be focusing on our second topic, the rights of migrant workers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. There have not been many major developments in this topic since we were writing the Topic Synopsis this summer. However, the role of COVID-19 and its impact on migrant workers in the Arab states has only grown in importance in the past few months.  The case study we highlighted in the Topic Synopsis was from an NPR report in May 2020, which stated that migrant workers were among the worst hit by COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Gulf states. According to the country’s Health Ministry, in Saudi Arabia more than 76% of the 3,000 daily new cases were non-Saudi residents. This is largely attributed to poor working conditions, substantial occupational safety hazards, healthcare deficits, and weak labor inspections aimed at preventing human rights violations.  However, NPR reported that this dramatic increase of c...

  Sunni-Shia split: What it is and why it’s important The Sunni-Shia split is an important religious divide that shapes and colors several conflicts in Western Asia, including the crisis in Yemen. Following the death of the Prophet Muhammad, Muslims split into two different sects -- the Sunni , who believed Abu Bakr should succeed as the next caliphate, and the Shia , who believed Ali was the rightful successor to lead the Islamic faith. This division has been sustained through to the modern day, fostering animosity and playing into various conflicts. A map from the synopsis has been attached below to give you an idea of how this division plays out within a broader geological context. In the context of the Yemen crisis, the Sunni-Shia divide has been particularly prominent. Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi , the second President of the Republic of Yemen, led a Sunni-majority government, which has since been destabilized by the actions of the Houthi Rebel Group , a Shia Muslim group. This has...

  Hey everyone! In this blog post, we will be taking a dive into Topic A, the Crisis in Yemen. Since the Yemen Crisis is an extremely dynamic and constantly evolving issue, this post will include some updates on the topic since the summer, when the topic synopsis was written. In addition, this post will provide some interesting perspectives and nuance to critical aspects of the topic and also clarify some foundational things about the topic that may be a little confusing, but are essential to have a strong understanding before committee this weekend! The role of some major players in the conflict have gone through major changes. Specifically, after the inauguration of President Joe Biden in January 2021, the United States has taken a stance to end the war in Yemen. Under the Biden Administration, some changes to foreign policy were made, such as a significant increase in the number of refugees accepted into the United States. In addition, the Biden administration has put a halt on ...