What is the situation in Yemen?

As of March of 2019, three-fourths of Yemen’s population of 29.2 million is in need of humanitarian assistance. Symptoms of the Civil War include malnourishment, disease, severe injuries, and death. Yemenis are unable to have access to food, safe drinking water, or medical care due to blockades of key ports in the country.

What role does the United States play in the Civil War?

The United States is not directly involved in the Civil War, but the role it plays is a big one that has a direct impact.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have infiltrated Yemen and are keeping the country in chaos as a means to obtain regional power.

The United States is a very prominent business partner to the two countries. The U.S. supplies weapons to the two countries in exchange for money. Consequently, the U.S. is a stakeholder that has a lot to gain from the war and keeping Yemen in turmoil.

What could happen if the United States withdraws from the Civil War?

Because the United States plays the role of a supplier to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, it has a lot of leverage as to how the war proceeds. Its role compares to the role of a bank. By having information that a member is engaging in suspicious activity, a bank can freeze their accounts. The same applies to the trade between the United States and Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The U.S. has dominion over the export of arms to the Middle Eastern countries. Therefore, should the U.S. choose not to sell arms, the two countries would be at a disadvantage. Again, the United States doesn’t play a direct role in the Yemen Civil War, however, it is its withdrawal from the conflict that could push these countries to withdraw as well.

Why should I care about this conflict?

Children aren’t receiving an education. Families are shipping off their daughters to strange men in exchange for dowry money to make ends meet. Young boys are recruited as soldiers in the war and are trained to torture and kill who they identify as the enemy. This war is thriving, and children make up the generation to witness and retain the events that accompany it. War will become the only thing they know.

Here in the United States, we are very fortunate to not be undergoing the same predicament. Anything is possible. At any given moment, we may be in the position to fight for our lives. We may lose our power as citizens and experience helplessness. In this case, we’d want the support from those who could help us to reconstruct.

The Civil War in Yemen is not solely a regional problem. It is primarily a human rights problem, which has no borders to limit action.

What can I do?

By signing your name to this petition, you will help in the efforts to bring forth this issue to Congress. Both the House and Senate have voted on a bill to end the export of arms from the United States to the Saudi-led coalition. However, there are still more Congress members that need convincing of the severity of the Yemen Civil War. Your voice matters. Help advocate to our representatives for the end of the Yemen Civil War and U.S. involvement.