Humanitarian crisis in Yemen

What is the issue?

Apart from civil war, Yemen is facing new challenges of humanitarian crisis including the recent outbreak of cholera.

What is Yemen civil war?

• The Yemeni Civil War is an ongoing conflict that began in 2015 between two factions claiming to constitute the Yemeni government.
• Houthi forces, loyal to the former President, have clashed with forces loyal to the current government.
• The Houthi forces captured the Yemen capital Sana.
• Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant are also agencies involved in the conflict.
• A coalition led by Saudi Arabia launched military operations by using airstrikes to restore theYemeni government which is overthrown by Houthi.
• According to the UN, from March 2015 to March 2017,  16,200 people have been killed in Yemen, including 10,000 civilians.

What are the present issues in Yemen?

• Migration -  Millions were displaced since 2015.
• Yet many migrants come to Yemen from the Horn of Africa seeking work in prosperous Gulf countries further north.
• Cholera - Yemen saw largest outbreak of Cholera in a single year.
• Just hours after being infected, vomiting and diarrhoea cause severe dehydration that can kill without rapid intervention.
• There are no proper facilities to treat people affected by diseases.

What are the reasons for recent cholera outbreak in Yemen?

• Primitive sanitation and water systems put Yemenis at the risk of drinking faeces-contaminated water.
• Wells are dirtied by the run-off from rainfall on piles of garbage.
• Farmland is irrigated with broken sewers due to negligent oversight and corruption.
• Medical intervention is delayed due to unpaid government employees and half of the country’s health facilities are out of service.

Source: The Hindu