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The Unseen Plight of Yemen: A Decade of Struggle

For ten long years, the people of Yemen have faced overwhelming challenges, grappling with the toll of airstrikes, starvation, and persistent loss. This enduring conflict has laid waste to Yemen’s physical and social infrastructure, leaving its population weary and vulnerable. As the eleventh year of this crisis begins, the global community appears to overlook Yemen’s dire situation.

Currently, nearly 20 million individuals in Yemen rely on humanitarian assistance for their daily survival, while close to five million others find themselves displaced due to violence and natural disasters. The international response, once galvanized by disturbing images from the war-torn nation, has shifted focus to emerging global crises. Yet for the aid workers on the ground and the citizens battling through these adversities, the narrative remains painfully relevant and urgent.

The harsh reality is acutely felt by local humanitarian workers who steadfastly continue their efforts amid chaos. Many have persevered through countless airstrikes and the ongoing instability, all while fearing for their families’ well-being. With donor support increasingly in jeopardy and tensions rising, they face the prospect of job insecurity. Unlike others with the means to rebuild their lives elsewhere, many Yemenis are bound by their circumstances, often limited by their passports and a lack of opportunities beyond their borders.

Yemen’s situation is frequently summarized in grim headlines, but the nation is rich with culture and history. It boasts breathtaking landscapes, ancient architecture, vibrant traditions, and renowned culinary delights. However, these aspects rarely receive the attention they deserve, as Yemenis are too often reduced to mere statistics of conflict and poverty. It is critical to recognize the individuals behind the facts.

Take, for instance, Basma, a mother from Al Hodeidah who was forced to flee to Al Makha with her children in search of safety and clean water. Previously, she would walk for hours each day to fill jerrycans, and her youngest child once collapsed from dehydration while waiting in extreme heat. For years, access to safe water was a distant hope until a recently finished water project brought some much-needed relief to her community.

IOM Video | Yemen: Ten Years of Crisis and Why We Must Act Now

Consider Ibrahim, a 70-year-old man displaced by severe floods in Ma’rib. As the floodwaters wreaked havoc, he carried his disabled son to safety, facing the loss of their home and all their belongings without complaint. He remained solely focused on his son’s needs, yet they now reside in a temporary tent, vulnerable to the elements and reliant on aid that may or may not arrive.

Then there’s Mohammed, a young man from Ethiopia who traveled through treacherous deserts and conflict zones, only to find himself trapped in Yemen without basic necessities. After suffering abuse and deprivation, he eventually reached the IOM’s Migrant Response Point, where he was weak and traumatized, yearning for the chance to return home—a journey many others never get to undertake.

The resilience of Yemenis shines through; they are not just victims of their circumstances. They serve as caregivers, builders, and educators, embodying the hopes and aspirations shared by people everywhere. Their stories represent merely a sample of the millions affected by this prolonged crisis.

Yemen, historically one of the poorest nations in the Arab world, is slipping deeper into poverty not due to its people’s actions but rather because of the world’s growing indifference. The war’s roots are deeply entrenched, yet its repercussions intensify daily. Yemenis shoulder immense burdens that they did not create, and what they seek is not pity but solidarity. This year, let us transform empathy into concrete action.

As the international community convenes, makes pledges, and outlines priorities, Yemen must not fade from view. The individuals affected are resilient survivors, not mere victims; they are filled with ambitions just like anyone else. However, words alone will not provide safety, sustenance, or shelter. It is imperative that these discussions lead to tangible actions. Turning away now would not only represent a diplomatic failure but a deeper, moral failing of humanity.

Originally published on IOM Blogs on 26 March 2025.

Source
news.un.org