Heartbreak in the Yemen

I am conscious that no one replied to this.
I dont actually know much, but I always do think it odd that some wars seem to "matter more" than others.
No idea why.
I think partly it is all driven by the media, but again, still no idea of why some wars get constant headlines, and some next to none.

Perhaps some wars get more attention because of charismatic (sic) leaders skilled in the media who are constantly importuning for more arms and aid.

Perhaps because in a western/European society, the war in Ukraine is (relatively) close to home? Maybe people equate the middle east as always fighting and far away so it doesn't seem as real? I hasten to add, I do not think this but wonder if that's what is at the root of the issue

The problems in Yemen have been there for a number of years and apart from the occasional news report, are ignored.

Yemen is a poor country with no resources deemed valuable enough to warrant outside interference. It has been the stamping ground of rival rebel forces for decades - Houthis, supported by Iran against Al Qaeda (in the south) and Ansar al-Sharia. Throw the Saudis and the UAE in the mix and the fact that the Yemeni government, such as it is, is powerless to control them all.

As in all civil wars the real victims are t

Sorry, my comment decided to post itself.

I was going to say the real victims are the blameless civilians living in extreme poverty in war torn homes with barely any food and medical facilities. The children are starving. It’s heartbreaking.

Oh God. Why do men need to fight?! Nothing changes. The poor suffer. Women and children mostly. Over my life I seem to have seen the same sad stories over and over in various parts of the world.

The same sad stories indeed - it is so depressing.

I watched this on the news last night and it broke my heart - that poor child crying in pain with parents unable to reach the hospital which could give the necessary treatment.

Out of sight out of mind. I think what Grandmabatty has said is true.

Just heartbreaking and, unfortunately, I don’t have any answers to what can be done.

Many many years ago I remember seeing on TV the war in what was then Biaffra and, for the first time in my life seeing the images of starving children. I can remember being so shocked and reduced to tears by these poor little mites and their despairing parents. It was just so dreadful. Now I/we are seeing this horror in th Yeman, a war without end, the cruelty,and hopeless of these poor souls caught up in it. The situation is just so shocking and absolutely heartbreaking. Awful.

We know it's happening and it is heartbreaking

The UK has sent about £1 billion of aid over the past 7 or 8 years but how much aid gets through and how much ends up into the wrong hands?

Oh God. Why do men need to fight?! Nothing changes. The poor suffer. Women and children mostly. Over my life I seem to have seen the same sad stories over and over in various parts of the world.
Yes, why?
The poor women struggling, made pregnant time and again only to see their children starve and die, get injured, lose limbs, suffer.
I'm sure they do not want to be bringing one child after another into the world only to see this happen.

The only thing I can do is to put as much money as I can into various charities like “medicine without borders” various children’s charities etc.

It seems that it is the countries most useful or threatening to the strategies of the West and I include Americans, that get the most help and poor Yemen has more or less been ignored. This catastrophe has been going on for years and I don't believe the Aid is getting through to the people who need it.. despite Aid workers pleading.. goodness knows how many people have died of starvation.

Yes it has been going on for years and there have been constant pleas for help from aid agencies. Perhaps they need another Bob Geldof.

pascal30

It seems that it is the countries most useful or threatening to the strategies of the West and I include Americans, that get the most help and poor Yemen has more or less been ignored. This catastrophe has been going on for years and I don't believe the Aid is getting through to the people who need it.. despite Aid workers pleading.. goodness knows how many people have died of starvation.

Aid is going to Yemen pascal, from many countries including the USA, the UK and from the EUsince 2015.

However, is aid getting through and is pouring aid into an area of such conflict just pouring money into a bottomless pit?

Is aid the answer when factions are determined to fight and cause such misery to their own citizens? What is the answer?

Agree WW. Think Medecin sans Frontiers operate in Yemen.

TBH I think many people become wearied of situations that are largely self-inflicted, because of tribal/religious/political factions endlessly warring among themselves. Because however much aid is poured in, until these warlords stop, nothing much is ever going to change.

Natural disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, famine caused by drought, IMO often evoke a different response.

A dd has worked for many years for major NGOs, so I’ve probably heard more than many people of bribery and corruption*, not to mention govts. formed largely of wealthy elites who don’t give much of a toss (if any) about their own people.

*One case I particularly remember was shortly after the 2004 tsunami in Aceh, Indonesia. Because of the scale of the disaster, many roads were simply impassable without 4WD vehicles, which made distributing aid to so many people impossible. So the NGO dd worked for shipped some such vehicles in.

Customs officials refused point blank to release them without payment of hefty bribes. And the NGO in question had a strict policy of never paying bribes, so the vehicles had to sit there for some weeks until - eventually - someone higher up deigned to intervene.

Callistemon21

pascal30

It seems that it is the countries most useful or threatening to the strategies of the West and I include Americans, that get the most help and poor Yemen has more or less been ignored. This catastrophe has been going on for years and I don't believe the Aid is getting through to the people who need it.. despite Aid workers pleading.. goodness knows how many people have died of starvation.

Aid is going to Yemen pascal, from many countries including the USA, the UK and from the EUsince 2015.

However, is aid getting through and is pouring aid into an area of such conflict just pouring money into a bottomless pit?

Is aid the answer when factions are determined to fight and cause such misery to their own citizens? What is the answer?

Yes I'm aware that there are Aid workers there, it is them that are calling for help.. I don't believe resources and money is getting through... there is so much corruption

westendgirl

Yes it has been going on for years and there have been constant pleas for help from aid agencies. Perhaps they need another Bob Geldof.

Well, that didn't change much for the starving people, did it!
So well-meaning and we were all so enthusiastic about it but:

An investigation by the BBC has found just 5 per cent of the money raised by Live Aid and Band Aid actually made it to the victims of famine in Ethiopia.

Instead, the millions of dollars of international aid intended to buy food for starving Ethiopians was used by rebel groups to buy weapons.
March 2010

I remember taking 2s 6d to Sunday School to help starving children in Africa and India.
The world produces enough food for everyone.
It's wars, conflicts and the logistics of getting the food to where it is needed.
Putin has again blocked grain ships leaving Odesa and attacked the grain stores.

😡

These poor people don’t have the money to flee and become refugees in a safer country like the Syrians. I wonder if this could be an opportunity for military intervention by the West in order to support humanitarian aid as Russia now has its hands tied in Ukraine?

merlotgran

These poor people don’t have the money to flee and become refugees in a safer country like the Syrians. I wonder if this could be an opportunity for military intervention by the West in order to support humanitarian aid as Russia now has its hands tied in Ukraine?

My thinking too...

Hatred, intolerance and evil has been rife in the Middle East since civilisation began ….. it’s truly heartbreaking, but will it ever change ? Whatever god they pray to clearly isn’t listening, religion appears to just make it all even worse. Hypocrisy at it’s worse while thousands continue to die and live in fear and deprivation. What is the answer ?