The Forgotten War: The Ongoing Disaster in Yemen - June 2018

The humanitarian crisis in Yemen is now considered the worst in the world. Saudi Arabia and its coalition's war in the poor Arab nation has resulted in widespread famine, illness and death.

• According to the United Nations, 75% of Yemen's population, just over 22 million people, are in dire need of humanitarian assistance. More than 2 million Yemenis are internally displaced, almost 18 million are food insecure--about half of those are at risk of starvation--and approximately 16 million lack access to safe water, sanitation and adequate healthcare. Over a million cases of cholera have been reported inside the country--the worst epidemic in modern history. Yemen's geographic location contributes to its strategic importance. The country's location on the Red Sea gives it control over the shipping of almost a third of the world's oil. Any negotiated peace agreement needs to take into account how this geographic importance influences regional and global interest in Yemen.


• Saudi Arabia views neighboring Yemen as a critical security concern ... [read Russia and Eastern Ukraine]

Related diaries 2013-18 @BooMan ...

US Drone Strikes Cause Fierce Blowback In Yemen | Aug. 2013|

Kerry Thanks Lavrov for Evacuating US Citizens from Yemen | April 2015 |

US Boots On the Ground In Yemen | BooMan - Aug. 2017 |

UAE Hired US Mercenaries for Assassinations in Yemen | Dec. 26, 2018 |

Yemen: Who was Ali Abdullah Saleh? | Al Jazeera - Dec. 5, 2017 |

Ali Abdullah Saleh dominated political life in Yemen for decades, even after his country and international allies forced him from the presidency more than five years ago.

The 75-year-old had spent years setting up a complicated network of alliances between the country's military, civil and tribal groups, fuelling societal divisions by playing enemies off one another in a bid to weaken his opposition.

The veteran politician likened this survival technique to "dancing on the heads of snakes," a slogan which appears to reflect the circumstances of his untimely death.

Last week, Saleh publicly broke ties with his former allies, the Houthis, calling on Yemenis to "defend the nation" against them.

Panel of experts says Ali Abdullah Saleh amassed between $32bn and $60bn through corruption during 33 years in power.

The killing of Ali Abdullah Saleh will instantly transform the political situation in Yemen, a country that's been gripped by conflict for three years [_link] pic.twitter.com/cZvpPLHCYE

— CNN International (@cnni) December 4, 2017

The UAE was behind the former president's decision to turn his back on Houthi rebels, officials say

'Sapere aude'