International warnings, including that of the World Health Organization, of the emergence of cases of cholera in Yemen cannot be ignored or belittled. Yemen is currently going through its worst crises in half a century. UNICEF representative in Yemen said that the international organization had warned of the risk of starvation in Yemen even long before war started in the country. International organizations have also warned of the risk of famine and the emergence of epidemics as a result of the lack of water resources suitable for human consumption.
The situation in Yemen in the past was bad, but today it is catastrophic. Following the fall of the capital Sanaa in the hands of militias, the state of Yemen has fallen and the international organizations could no longer rely on the country’s administrative system so as to observe the humanitarian conditions and to deliver food and medical aid.
Monitoring an outbreak of cholera entails collective action to stop the disease and prevent an epidemic of the fatal disease, which threatens the lives of millions of people and spreads so rapidly that international organizations won’t be capable of confronting it later.
The outbreak of cholera and other serious diseases as well, is caused by the inhuman conditions under which Yemeni people are living amid the ongoing war. Previous reasons included shortages of medical service and bad public service during the rule of former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who spent nearly four decades in power without developing the country’s infrastructure. Under Saleh's rule, Yemen used to receive aid from various governments and various organizations provided the poor country with vaccines and mobile hospitals.
Following the outbreak of war, the situation has become more difficult, especially in areas controlled by rebels, namely the Houthi group that prevent relief organizations from reaching the affected areas to deliver aid. As for areas controlled by the legitimate government, more than one third of the country’s territories, the situation is less critical. This is because of the intensified medical and relief services, which Saudi Arabia and the UAE are continuing to provide. What can be done for millions of Yemenis who are isolated in areas controlled by Houthi and President Saleh’s militias as well as in conflict zones?
Unfortunately, options available for sending medical teams or relief are very limited. So, it could be better to refer the activities of relief agencies to the UN and other international concerned organizations that are accepted by both parties.
Given that they are relief processes, whether for providing food or medical aid, there would be no discrimination by the donors. But I think the mission will not be easy.
According to a military informed source, the Houthi group has long banned the relief convoys coming from outside Yemen, and nothing could be done to deliver the aid to the beneficiaries. Then I asked him: Do the Houthis use the relief issue as a means for bargaining? He answered that he could not understand their motives and justifications, as the ban would not be of great benefit to them.
“They have nothing to bargain for, despite the fact that this matter is different from prisoner of war exchanges, which are difficult as well,” he said. The source maintained that the Houthis are not caring for making medicine available to people owing to their ignorance of their duties as stipulated by international rules of engagement. He also pointed out that the most affected areas are the anti-Houthi ones, which fell under their control, as they are punishing their inhabitants by starving and segregating them.
Yemen is suffering a humanitarian crisis that snowballs by the time as a result of the long deteriorating economic situation and the ongoing war, so all should provide assistance indiscriminately. Yemenis are our brothers and neighbors and we have great responsibilities toward them that require both governments and peoples to move to save them.
The Yemenis have been so unlucky that they escaped from unjust regime to fall in the hands of merciless militias. This absurd war could be evaded if they accepted the political system set up by the UN and the GCC countries, which granted all parties the right to take part in government. But, unfortunately, the deposed president managed to sabotage the new system to prevent any potential successor from ruling the country, a desire that was supported by Houthis who were craving for power. Despite all of this, we, and the whole world, have no option but to cooperate to put an end to the tragedy by securing assistance to millions of Yemenis who are threatened by starvation and diseases.
• Abdulrahman Al-Rashed is a veteran and internationally acclaimed columnist. He is the former general manager of Al Arabiya news channel and former editor-in-chief of Asharq Al-Awsat.