The conflicting parties in Yemen have extended the two-month ceasefire that was initially agreed upon in April of this year. It was a genuine cause for joy and one of the first significant measures toward peace to be taken in a long time. Time is slipping away for thousands of families, though.
While many people around the world rejoice, other families in Yemen are left to watch their children suffocate.
According to the Houthi-controlled administration in Sanaa, there are about 30,000 people with life-threatening illnesses who need care abroad. Five thousand of them are kids. Flights carrying patients out of the country have been made possible by the cease-fire, although this largely benefits families who can afford to have their loved ones treated overseas. Most cannot because of the war’s horrific side effects and the humanitarian crisis it sparked, which the UN once dubbed the worst in history.
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A Saudi-led coalition has been attempting to smash the Houthis, who are backed by Iran, for the past seven years since the group—also known as Ansarullah—toppled the state recognized by all nations. The coalition imposed and the US helped support a gasoline blockade that lasted years as a result of the war.
A War Powers Resolution put up by US Senator Bernie Sanders is now contesting that support as well as broader US backing for the military operation in Yemen. The crushing effects of the blockade, import quotas, and soaring inflation may be seen in Yemen’s crippled healthcare and economic systems.
Since the truce was formed on April 2, the coalition has only allowed 24 of the 36 fuel ships to reach the Red Sea port of Hodeida. It was a much-needed boost to the economy and the functioning of healthcare facilities, but it fell short of what the UN considers to be “adequate to support vital services.”
