TEHRAN (FNA)- While Covid-19 arrived in Yemen somewhat late, it is as bad as many feared.
Doctors Without Borders says many are getting sick, the death rates are high and people are dying alarmingly fast. There are many reasons this could be. War-torn Yemenis are in poor health to start with from chronic malnutrition, and when they get sick hospitals don’t have the gear to treat them properly.
Amid the pandemic, don’t expect UN agencies to launch an emergency medical aid appeal, claiming they want to avert a humanitarian catastrophe in war-torn Yemen. That country has been under siege by the US and Saudi Arabia for more than five years, while the UN continues to publish pathetic statements. Be that as it may, the criminal hordes prevent any delivery of food and basic supplies, let alone emergency medical assistance.
As well, it’s a waste of time for Doctors Without Borders to issue a joint statement with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, the UN Children's Fund, and the World Food Program that says more than two-thirds of Yemenis are struggling to feed themselves under an incessant barrage of bombs being dropped by US-backed Saudi warplanes. As previously, the regime changers will never allow any emergency food or medical assistance reach Yemen.
To verify on that, President Trump says he has every intention to make the situation worse. All signs are that Yemen is in for more suffering at Trump’s hands. His Defense Department has designated Yemen as a formal battlefield in the bogus War on Terror, which allows for an intensified pace of drone operations.
As the illegal war grinds on and civilian casualties mount, the Trump administration must answer for its support of the Saudi campaign at the UN, which is prolonging the conflict. Even if Saudi Arabia balks at ending its airstrikes, it can’t keep up the war without US weaponry, intelligence, and logistical help. The Trump administration can stop this bloodshed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
As for the UN, Yemen cannot contain the coronavirus pandemic unless the world body stops supporting Saudi Arabia with tacit consent. Yemen needs more than joint statements and emergency food aid appeals. UN statements need to follow with actions and medical aid has to reach the Yemenis now.
This entire war has gone by without a resolution at the UN Security Council against the Saudi-led coalition's atrocities and the only resolution banned supply of weapons to the poor and defenseless Yemenis. In fact, the worse opposite has happened as Saudi Arabia’s depleted stores of munitions have been hastily replenished by permanent members France, the UK and the US. These past months - despite the global pandemic - they have continued to supply Saudi Arabia with arms.
Just as importantly, the people of Yemen should realize that no one is going to help them if they don’t help themselves. America’s aggression which began with Obama has continued under Trump and will be extended to the next administration. Washington has flat-out gone mad in its delusional self-righteousness and ridiculous claims that the illegal blockade and wanton destruction inflicted on Yemen are justified.
The best way to not feel hopeless is for the Yemenis to unite and stand up against the aggressors, and defend their country. They should never wait for help from the Security Council. The Council will never put pressure on Riyadh to end the war because of the US and its greed for more business.
As long as American drones and bombs are involved in the dirty war, more lives will be lost amid the pandemic. And it's not just about weaponry. It is about the US fuelling Saudi war crimes without demanding that they demonstrate a serious commitment to preventing civilian casualties. The United Nations has repeatedly said the Saudis are responsible for two-thirds of civilian casualties. It has documented Saudi attacks on civilian areas, including hospitals, schools, refugee camps, markets and homes.
No doubt multiple parties are colluding to worsen the pandemic and starve Yemen into submission, including the US and its allies. Any measure taken at the United Nations must take the form of a binding resolution of disapproval that would force the warmongers to end their war and allow the delivery of food and medicine supplies into the country.
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