UN to Halt Food Aid in Yemen
By REBECCA CROSS
By the year 2030, the United Nations aims to eradicate global hunger as they assert their goals of “Ending hunger, and ensuring access by all people to safe, nutritious food,” the UN global issues’ page, “Food,” states. Historically, The United Nations has taken this goal very seriously. Therefore, on Monday, when the food agency threatened to halt food aid in Yemen, many reacted in disbelief.
According to UNNews.org’s article, “Hunger in Yemen,” the United Nations food relief agency stated, that without full access and “freedom to decide” who receives life saving aid, in Houthi rebel-controlled areas of Yemen, it could be forced to implement a “phased suspension.”
In the 1990s a rebel group, called the Houthis, began in Yemen “as a theological movement that preached tolerance and peace” according to Ahmed Addaghashi, a professor at Sanaa University, Batati states.. The group called for a new Parliament and government reform. However, the group, “fell into internal strife between two lines; the first called for more openness, while the second urged sticking to the traditional legacy of the Shia sect," Batati continues. Now that a majority of Yemen is controlled by the Houthi rebels, the United Nations often communicates with them in regards to who receives aid.
Unfortunately, relations between the United Nations and the Rebels have not always been amicable, as a senior spokesperson of the United Nations recounts that some of the Houthi leaders had made “positive commitments” and worked closely with World Food Programme to allow a “fully independent humanitarian process of selecting the most needy” to become a reality, Batati adds. However, the spokesperson also states that others had “unfortunately broken assurances they gave us.”
The United Nations attributes their suspension of aid to thievery (from the rebels) and dishonesty in regards to how the distribution of food is handled.
Many detest the United Nations’ decision. However, the United Nations asserts that it considers suspension as a “last resort,” according to Spokesman Herve Verhoosel. Therefore, with horrid conditions, as UNNews.org describes, “Around 360,000 children in Yemen are suffering from severe acute malnutrition,” many are hopeful to resolve the issue at hand.
According to the article, “Hunger in Yemen,” Spokesman Verhoosel asserts, “If WFP is allowed to deliver an operation that meets minimum international standards, we are still ready to play our part and to ensure a better future for the millions of Yemenis who are struggling to feed their families.”
As the United Nations hopes to maintain peaceful relations with the rebels in order to aid those in need, many hope that the rebels will cooperate with the United Nations as well. Thus, according to UN News, the United Nations remains hopeful that “goodness will prevail”.
Works Cited
Batati, Saeed Al. "Who are the Houthis in Yemen?" aljazeera.com, 29 Mar. 2015, www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/08/yemen-houthis-hadi-protests-201482132719818986.html. Accessed 3 June 2019. The Houthi rebels began as a theological movement preaching peace, but are now at the centre of international conflict.
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"Food." Unitednations.org, www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/food/. Accessed 3 June 2019.
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"Hunger in Yemen: WFP considers aid suspension in face of repeated interference by some Houthi leaders." UN News, United Nations, 20 May 2019, news.un.org/en/story/2019/05/1038841. Accessed 3 June 2019.
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"UN Halts Food Aid to Yemen." Unitednations.org, www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/food/. Accessed 3 June 2019.