The war in Yemen began in March of 2015. The Saudi Arabians launched Operation Decisive Storm because Yemenis overthrew the former and now deceased president, Ali Abdullah Saleh. A failed transition sponsored by the United States and the Gulf states led to the rise of Abed Rabbu Mansour Hadi who became president after Saleh. Hadi was overthrown by Houthis, Shia rebels that the Saudis accuse of having Iranian backing. Saudi Arabia sees the war as a regional struggle against its enemy, Iran.
The war has only worsened since then. Saudi Arabia’s forces have since put a blockade on Yemen’s docks and ports. This means that the Yemeni citizens do not have access to food, supplies, and medicine. Yemen has had one of the worst cholera outbreaks with over 2,190 deaths. The lack of medical supplies available is only causing this number to rise. In addition the medical emergencies, malnutrition has become a severe issue. Children are starving at a high rate because of the lack of food and the lack of money to buy food. This issue has led to thousands of children being admitted into medical care facilities. But due to the fighting in the country and lack of funds, many facilities have been forced to close down. One facility, Al-Thawra hospital is currently treating some 2,500 people a day. Children are half or less of the weight that they should be. Aid agencies warn that the humanitarian crisis is only going to worsen if Saudi Arabia doesn’t loosen its blockade. I think that while yes, Yemen is your enemy, that Saudi Arabia should think about the true horror and damage that this insane blockade is causing. If they really want to make sure that the Yemeni forces aren’t receiving fighting equipment, they should check every ship that enters the dock. Rather than keeping the people starving and dying.