Sonika: Updates on the Crisis in Yemen

 

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 arms sales to Saudi Arabia and UAE, marking an important change of events. However, the Gulf countries already have access to ample weaponry, so the decision may be just symbolic. Moreover, resistance from Iran seems to be making any more diplomatic progress increasingly difficult. 

Despite progress being made by large and small nations alike, the War in Yemen is only getting more brutal and complicated. Houthi attacks have continued to devastate the civilian infrastructure in Yemen. As recently as on February 10th, the Houthi group carried out a drone attack on Saudi Arabia’s Abha airport, causing a fire in a civilian aircraft.

 

In addition to existing geopolitical tensions, outside actors like the COVID-19 pandemic present yet another complication to this crisis. With COVID-19 being only one of the many health concerns in the Yemen Crisis, the healthcare system in Yemen is already collapsed and not equipped to handle surges in cases. Since the start of the war, medical facilities and even medical personnel have been the specific target of attacks, leaving less than half of the health facilities functioning. Moreover, COVID-19 is not the only disease to hit the region, with notable outbreaks of cholera, diphtheria, measles and dengue fever being reported previously. Given the country’s limited testing capacity, the true scope of the problem at hand is impossible to know.

Sonika Vuyyuru