Traveling with my humanitarian team in Yemen to visit the humanitarian operations of our partner, the phrase “Indana” was always in my ears. It was an invitation from people we did not know: Come to our home, share a meal, get some rest—from families with barely enough food on their own tables.

After more than seven years of war, the humanitarian situation in Yemen remains dire. Up to two-thirds of the population (just over 20.7 million people out of a population of 30.5 million) need humanitarian assistance.  Out of which, at least 12 million Yemenis are in critical need. As a comparison, this would be the entire population of Sri Lanka needing humanitarian assistance, with the entire populations of Tunisia or Belgium in critical need.

This year, the overall humanitarian funding raised so far for Yemen is in sharp decline (40% coverage versus over 60% at the same time last year, per UNOCHA), while humanitarian needs remain unmet, and have likely increased, in addition, parts of humanitarian funding for 2022 were moved to other more recent humanitarian operations in other parts of the world.

2022 has also seen a reduction in the overall spending by countries on international humanitarian aid, reversing the upward trend seen in recent years. States, especially ones with larger budgets, should abide by their international commitments among developed countries to spend 0.7 percent of their Gross National Income (GNI) on foreign aid, and even surpass it whenever they can.

In Yemen, the overall annual budget that humanitarian organisations appeal for in support of the most vulnerable Yemenis is less than 5 billion US Dollars—no doubt a small portion of the annual cost of the war.

Although the UN has brokered a ceasefire between the warring parties which began in April 2022, still there is no lasting peace after more than seven years of conflict. Having been based in Yemen for over a year, I have witnessed the destruction brought to the country and its people. I have seen in all provinces way too many posters of young men who have died, leaving behind grieving loved ones.

The Yemeni economy has paid and continues to pay a dear price. It is time to have permanent peace, for the parties and other stakeholders to agree in order for Yemen to have a chance to breathe again, and for the Yemeni economy and Yemeni people to get a chance at prosperity, development and peace, what we consider as normal life in many countries.

Meanwhile, as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies – IFRC, we will continue to support and stand by the Yemen Red Crescent, in carrying out its daily humanitarian duties in support of Yemenis all over Yemen. Seeing the work of the volunteers and staff of the Yemen Red Crescent made me yet again extremely proud of their work and humanitarian dedication, working in very difficult conditions in their health centres to provide free health care services to Yemenis, and responding to the recent floods by supporting the victims of these floods, while themselves as Yemenis being highly affected by seven years of conflict in their own country. Similarly, the beauty of nature in Yemen is exceptional.

Our travels allowed us to view majestic mountains and nature at its best. In contrast to the beauty of nature in Yemen, we also witnessed the ugly face of conflict through its humanitarian consequences affecting a large part of the Yemeni people.