The UN’s decision to remove Saudi Arabia “from a blacklist of warring parties” responsible for the countless deaths of Yemini children has been met with severe backlash according to reports by The New Arab.
This controversial decision comes after a Houthi rebel airstrike killed 13 civilians on Monday, which included four children.
“Saudi Arabia was responsible for the deaths and injuries of 222 children in Yemen in 2019, the rebel Houthi movement for 313, and forces allied to the UN-recognised Yemen government responsible for 96 casualties,” according to Reuters.
The Saudi-led coalition, which also has ties to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), would, “be delisted for the violation of killing and maiming, following a sustained significant decrease in killing and maiming due to air strikes,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.
Saudi’s constant delisting efforts exerted “unexceptable” pressure on the UN, with Riyadh even threatening to cut their funding. However, if the number of child casualties in Yemen continues to rise, Saudi and the UAE would be at risk of re-listing.
Today, UN Chief @antonioguterres took Saudi off a blacklist for killing Yemeni children.
Also today, Saudi killed 13 people in Yemen, including 4 children: https://t.co/qiUw6YglS9
Shame on @UN for normalizing violence against Yemeni children. https://t.co/CfnvqGHiK2
— Shireen Al-Adeimi (@shireen818) June 15, 2020
Although many are aware of the Yemen crisis, some may be unaware of the extent of the situation. Here is a breakdown of what’s going on:
War and Intervention
The Northern Yemen-based group Ansar Allah, better known as Houthi rebel fighters, came in and took full control of the capital, Sanaa, in early 2015. Their control advanced southward from the capital down to the city of Aden. In March of 2015, Yemeni president Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi fled to Saudi Arabia, and urged for an intervention. Saudi formed its coalition and launched a proxy war against the rebels, which has been going on for about five years, while the Yemeni president remains in Riyadh.
Comedian and political commentator Hasan Minhaj explained the conflict, where he broke down the entire situation in less than a minute on his show Patriot Act.
“So take three wars, shove them into the Arab world’s poorest country, and that’s the conflict in Yemen.”
The United States has been supplying the Saudi government with weapons since the Obama administration, with the U.K. leading as the second largest arms exporter.
Devastations
The ongoing war in Yemen has caused major devastations, some of which include:
Increased famine, with a Yemini child dying approximately every 10 minutes.
A Cholera epidemic.
Worsening the COVID-19 pandemic across the country.
Multiple Instagram posts have been made in an effort to educate social media users of these extremities:
What Can You Do to Help?
Educate and inform others by sharing this article and other Instagram posts raising awareness about the Yemen crisis.
Write to your MP to end the sales of weapons to Saudi Arabia.
Donate and sign petitions at: https://yemencrisis.carrd