Yemen today is mothers needing to decide which child lives or dies as they ration food, it is entire families, dogs, and ravens living on piles of garbage to secure one meal, if? It is a silent death for thousands of starving babies and children; It is no medicine, no clean water, destroyed buildings and largely halted reconstruction or rehabilitation.

And this is a mere drop in the ocean I have observed during my recent mission to Yemen.  A heartbreaking mission that highlighted yet again the unbearable and inhumane conditions suffered by the vast majority of the civilian population.  I consider myself a ‘veteran’ humanitarian having worked for over 3 decades in the world’s worsts disasters and crises.  Yemen however tested my ability to ‘look away’ and remain focused on the mission to deliver assistance in the context of one of the world’s top three or four most tragic humanitarian catastrophes, (next to Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Somalia, and others).

A spiral where the dignity of millions is sacrificed daily.  Communities were forced to line up for hours under the burning sun for inadequate baskets of food that barely last a week.  The dependencies created ensure reliance on foreign aid, and rarely promote community coping, self-reliance, or resilience.

Of course, the context is more complex and multi-layered, with decades of endemic economic and social tough issues that require longer-term approaches.  But this cannot be an excuse for the people to suffer such horrific deaths from hunger and in humiliation.

Why?

The assistance promised is insufficient, comes with many restrictions related to sanctions, and access to people in need due to the 7-year conflict is difficult. In discussions with many locals, officials, and internationals, it is apparent that more can be done along both diplomatic channels and practicalities on the ground.  Donor agencies can and must do away with the micro-management that adds layers of cumbersome bureaucracy to satisfy capitals abroad while making it impossible for locals to deliver the aid quickly and with agility.  They have created a system in which the paper report is more important than a child receiving timely medical assistance or food.  The demand for donor visibility further complicates matters, especially when those demanding visibility are parties to the conflict.  The aid is parceled to too many international organizations further fragmenting aid efforts and creating waste.

Humanitarian agencies attempting to cope and meet such supply-driven and distorted approaches to aid are doing their best.  Some comply, others stay out, some quietly protest, and some are complicit; however, not much changes.  The instrumentalization of humanitarian assistance for political and military gains by donor nations has only harmed and killed the most vulnerable.

I am reminded of the writings by humanitarian and poet, Ross Coggins. Some versus of ‘The Development Set’ (1976) highlight many of the failings to tackle poverty:

“We discuss malnutrition over steaks

And plan hunger talks during coffee breaks.

Whether Asian floods or African drought,

We face each issue with an open mouth.”

The above rings true in 2022 for Yemen and the current severe Africa-wide hunger crisis and describes much of the reality of the aid ecosystem; not for everyone, but it does exist, and this also needs to stop.  The hypocrisy on all sides delays frustrates and kills.

 

A Fix?  Maybe…

Donors need to implement the very commitments made and signed in many global meetings to provide unrestricted funding as directly as possible to local actors.  Local Red Crosses and Red Crescents are some of those local actors, and are often bypassed, or are provided with insignificant funds.  Trust is key here and donors are keenly aware that trusted organizations can be relied upon to do more if the ridiculous restrictions, micro-management, and unrealistic timelines are lifted.  Donor nations need to show much higher regard and sensitivity to the plight of the Yemeni population. Through action, not only words or excuses.

The diplomats, from those donor nations, need to again recognize that humanitarian assistance is no substitute for durable and just peace agreements to restore dignity and livelihoods.  And it is not a tool for public relations and domestic political consumption.  Support to local and national institutions needs to be a top priority and not an afterthought.

Local authorities must provide safe and protected humanitarian spaces/access for aid actors.  Attacks on aid and aid workers harm all, and especially the most vulnerable.

For example, the Yemen Red Crescent, IFRC, and ICRC are working together to scale up and reach more people.  But the context forces all to be literally ‘bunkerized’ behind sandbags and barbed wires.  This is not how we like to operate; it distances us from the people we serve and creates unnecessary tensions.  Donors can trust that we will act guided by the highest of humanitarian principles, and we must be allowed to do so without interference and fragmentation.

I left Yemen, heartbroken, yet with hope, that this beautiful country and its generous and kind people will soon see peace and begin to rebuild, find jobs, plant, and live with dignity and respect.