I interviewed the head of the project in Yemen, whose name is withheld for security reasons, to learn more about the conflict in the country between the Islamic houthi-movement on the one hand, and the government, Saudi Arabia and the West on the other.
What is the conflict about in short?
"The whole problem is really an old Sunni-Shia conflict. Yemen is half Shia and half Sunni, but previously it was never a problem whether you were Sunni or Shia. The whole conflict is brought in from the outside, and basically from its big northern neighbor, Saudi Arabia. The Saudis wanted a Sunni Muslim to be in power in Yemen, because in terms of population, Yemen is almost equalas big as Saudi Arabia."
That wish was granted Saudi Arabia fulfilled in 2012 against the backdrop of the Arab Spring. The incumbent president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who has a Shia background, was overthrown in favor of Sunni Muslim Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. In the midst of the chaos, the Shia houthi-movement to gain control of the northern part of Yemen. The country used to be divided into South and North Yemen, but was united in 1990.
The project manager elaborates: "The Saudis accused Iran of being behind it, but in reality it was more of a popular uprising. So it was a kind of propaganda to justify a war against Iran. Houthis and Shia Islam in Yemen. And then Saudi Arabia started bombing Shia areas in March 2015. That brought the whole conflict to where it is now, with further bombing and starvation."
The UN brings help to millions of people in a disaster like this. How is the project different from the aid provided by the UN and other organizations?
"The UN has to go through the authorities and they have to comply with the wishes of local authorities. In other words houthi–the movement in the north and the government, or the Saudi-led coalition, South."
According to locals in Yemen, this means that large populations of 3-5 million people do not have access to aid through the UN, as it requires a ID card. And it is precisely these people without ID card are the most socially vulnerable and marginalized.
Image: 24 million people in Yemen are starving. Here, poor Yemenis search for leftover food in a garbage heap.
Christians have an important role here, says the project manager: "Christians, on the other hand, are also part of a minority, so they empathize with the minorities and those who are most in need. That makes a big difference. Christians don't just give to Christians, they give to everyone. That's what they are loved for. They don't discriminate by race, tribe, political or religious affiliation. They just help those who are most in need."
Christians don't just give to Christians, they give to everyone. That's what they are loved for [Quote page 7]
What is the solution to the conflict?
"It's a big, big problem for the people, and the only solution to it is: Stop the war! The US and Trump could say Stop to Saudi Arabia, and then they will stop, or they have to. The war has to stop. The international community needs to put pressure on the belligerents.
Both sides are cruel and commit war crimes. And both sides discriminate against religious minorities and especially Christians, so there is not a good side and an evil side," concludes the project manager.
In the midst of the world's worst disaster, Christians in Yemen are bringing hope and peace. They distribute food and help the people who are most vulnerable. Through this, they show God's love in the midst of hopelessness and darkness. You can bring light into the darkness and stand with the Christians in Yemen by supporting and praying for them.
Support Yemen: Emergency aid for Christians and other minorities
The crisis in numbers:
80% of the population lives below the international poverty line
74% of the population does not have access to safe drinking water
7 million people are undernourished
10 million people are just a small step away from hunger and famine
124.493 people was diagnosed with cholera in the first quarter of 2019
