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==United Kingdom's role==
==United Kingdom's role==


Although Britain has called on Saudi Arabia to ease the siege on Yemen and the British government allocated 4&nbsp;million pounds to aid meet emergency requirements,<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/yemen/11859822/Britain-fuelling-war-in-Yemen-through-arms-sales-says-charity.html Britain 'fuelling war in Yemen' through arms sales, says charity] telegraph.co.uk Retrieved 23 December 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/11/theresa-saudi-blockade-yemen-eased-171130092427225.html Theresa May: Saudi blockade on Yemen must be eased] aljazeera.com Retrieved 23 December 2017.</ref> it has been criticised for its indirect role in the war of Yemen, where it is continuing arms sales as one of the leading arms providers to Saudi Arabia.<ref name="Farsi" />
Although Britain has called on Saudi Arabia to ease the siege on Yemen and the British government allocated 4&nbsp;million pounds to aid meet emergency requirements,<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/yemen/11859822/Britain-fuelling-war-in-Yemen-through-arms-sales-says-charity.html Britain 'fuelling war in Yemen' through arms sales, says charity] telegraph.co.uk Retrieved 23 December 2017.</ref><ref>[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/11/theresa-saudi-blockade-yemen-eased-171130092427225.html Theresa May: Saudi blockade on Yemen must be eased] aljazeera.com Retrieved 23 December 2017.</ref> it has been criticised for its indirect role in the war of Yemen, where it is continuing arms sales as one of the leading arms providers to Saudi Arabia.<ref name="Farsi" /> Additionally, the Mail on Sunday reported that the British Army is secretly training Saudi Arabian troops in order to fight in Yemen and up to 50 UK military personnel have been teaching battlefield skills to Saudi Arabian soldiers. <ref>[http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5117571/Britains-secret-role-Saudi-Arabias-dirty-war.html Britain's secret role in Saudi Arabia's dirty war: UK troops are training army that has left a million on the brink of starvation, investigation finds] dailymail.co.uk Retrieved 9 January 2018</ref><ref>[http://www.presstv.com/Detail/2017/11/26/543508/UK-Saudi-Arabia-Yemen UK secretly training Saudi troops for Yemen war: Report] presstv.com Retrieved 9 January 2018</ref>


==United Nations calls for lifting of blockade==
==United Nations calls for lifting of blockade==

Revision as of 08:23, 9 January 2018

Main article: Yemeni Civil War (2015–present)

The blockade of Yemen refers to a sea, land and air blockade on Yemen which started with the positioning of Saudi Arabian warships in Yemeni waters, although it was further constricted following the November launch of a missile from Houthis in Yemen towards Riyadh. The blockade of Yemen has been the cause of a critical situation for Yemenis, and it is worsening to the extent that United Nations mentioned Yemen is confronting with the worst global famine.[1][2] The World Health Organization announced that the number of suspected persons to cholera in Yemen reached approximately 500,000 people.[3][4][5]

The shortage of water in Yemen can be regarded as a crucial problem for Yemenis, and the lack of clean water can put the Yemeni children at risk of diverse diseases.

Background

Yemeni capital Sanaa after airstrikes, 9 October 2015

A military intervention was launched by Saudi Arabia in March, 2015, which was leading a coalition of nine countries from the Middle East and Africa, in order to influence the outcome of the Yemeni Civil War in favor of President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi’s government.[6] The intervention code-named “Operation Decisive Storm” included a bombing campaign and subsequently saw a naval blockade and likewise deploying ground forces in Yemen. As a result of that, there have been many innocent women and children killed as well as Houthi fighters.[7][8][9]


Saudi Arabia, which has been at war with Yemen since 2015, tightened the air, land and sea blockade of the country. According to the manager of Al Hudaydah port which is in the control of Houthis, medicine and food couldn’t go to Al-Hudaydah since Saudi-led airstrike ruined the port’s industrial cranes in August 2015. [10]

Supply shortage

See also: Famine in Yemen
Selling black market fuel is as a way people feed their families as other businesses fail due to the war and fuel shortages in Yemen

As a result of the blockade there is a de facto desperate shortage of necessary supplies such as food, water and medical means, to some extent that for instance the children are at risk of catching diseases because of lack of drinkable water.[11][12]

A limited amount of aid ships can unload whereas the bulk of commercial shipping, on which the desperately poor country depends, are de facto being blocked and in truth such blockade has made a crucial situation for Yemenis. In spite of entreaties, Saudi Arabia has failed to pay out any of the $274m as it promised in investing into humanitarian relief. [13][14][15]

United States's role

Although the U.S. hoped to show a positive role in the conflict and President Trump asked Saudi to allow humanitarian aid to enter Yemen, the U.S has also supported the Arab coalition’s intervention in the war and its blockade on Yemen since March 2015. Washington has its logistical and intelligence support by a joint planning cell created with the military of Saudi Arabia that are managing the war.[16][17][18]

Meanwhile, aid agencies say embargo imposed by U.S. (and UK-backed) Arab coalition has had dramatic affect with about 80% of population in urgent need of vital things such as food, water and medical supplies. Saudi Arabia began airstrikes, reportedly relying on U.S. intelligence reports and surveillance images to select and hit targets, including weapons, aircraft. The US has dispatched warships to reinforce the blockade.[19] It has refueled Saudi planes, sent the Saudi military targeting intelligence, and resupplied them with tens of billions of dollars worth of bombs.[13][20] The U.S (and the UK) support the effort through arms sales and technical assistance. Amnesty International urged the U.S. and the UK to stop supplying arms to Saudi Arabia and to the Saudi-led coalition.[21][22] It has been reported that U.S. is regarded as an indirect partner for Saudi Arabia in the war and blockade on Yemen.[23][24][25]

United Kingdom's role

Although Britain has called on Saudi Arabia to ease the siege on Yemen and the British government allocated 4 million pounds to aid meet emergency requirements,[26][27] it has been criticised for its indirect role in the war of Yemen, where it is continuing arms sales as one of the leading arms providers to Saudi Arabia.[13] Additionally, the Mail on Sunday reported that the British Army is secretly training Saudi Arabian troops in order to fight in Yemen and up to 50 UK military personnel have been teaching battlefield skills to Saudi Arabian soldiers. [28][29]

United Nations calls for lifting of blockade

According to Agence France-Presse, The United Nations called Saudi-led coalition to instantly/completely lift the blockage on Yemen. The World Health Organization announced that there is a rapid incidence of diphtheria disease in 13 provinces of Yemen. This organization also added, the incidence of diphtheria in Yemen is regarded as a worrying problem. The Saudi Arabian-led coalition, blocked all sea, land and air borders of Yemen after Ansar Allah’s missile attack on Riyadh on 6 November 2017, and didn’t allow international aid to be delivered for Yemeni people. According to reports, there are approximately one million Yemenis who have been affected by cholera, and more than 2200 persons died due to the disease, this lead to protests against the blockade where the United Nations appealed to the Saudi Arabian-led military coalition to entirely lift its blockade of Yemen, saying up to 8 million people were “right on the brink of famine”. [30][31][32]

No ships in port despite claim of lifting blockade

Although Saudi Arabia pledged on 20 December 2017 to lift the blockade for a month, there is no reported aid or commerce coming in Yemen via Hudaydah which is considered as a key port in Yemen. After Houthi fighters fired a missile at the capital of Saudi Arabia on 4 November 2017, Saudis sealed sea, air and land access to Yemen. Saudi officials did consent that they will lift the blockade of Hudaydah for a period of time. In the meanwhile, Riyadh mentioned that “The port of Hudaydah will remain open for humanitarian and relief supplies and the entry of commercial vessels, including fuel and food vessels, for a period of 30 days". Two weeks later, after Saudi Arabia’s declaration, Hudaydah stayed empty. There is no relief vessels or trader to be seen anchored there. The manager of the port substantiated that the sea-hub did process merely two vessels whose permits were old.[33][34][35]

Yemen’s Houthi leader threatens retaliatory attacks

Abdul-Malik al-Houthi as the leader of Yemen’s Ansar Allah (Houthi) movement has vowed retaliatory attacks in reaction to the blockade. Recently, al-Houthi protested against “tightening the blockade” by addressing the adherents of Houthis through television. Since, Saudi Arabia has imposed a hard blockade on about all the air, sea ports and land of Yemen after Yemenis launched a solid propellant and scud-type missile against the international airport of King Khalid which is located thirty-five kilometers north of Riyadh as the capital of Saudi, in reaction to Saudi Arabia’s devastating aerial bombardment campaign over Yemenis. Abdul-Malik al-Houthi declared that we are aware that what (targets) could cause big trouble and of course how to reach them.[36]

The leader of Ansar Allah emphasized that Saudi Arabia and UAE are within range of the missiles, and Yemeni’s UAVs will begin bombing the targets over Saudi. Abdul-Malik al-Houthi also warned the companies and investors who are in UAE that all companies in UAE ought not to consider United Arab Emirates as a safe country from now on. He also said to invaders that they ought not to commit aggression to Al-Hudaydah if they want to protect their oil tankers.[37][38]

See also

References

  1. ^ Yemen conflict: UN official warns of world's biggest famine BBC News. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  2. ^ Employee of the Month: Mohamed bin Salman sites.tufts.edu Retrieved 24 December 2017.
  3. ^ Saudi Arabia’s new blockade is starving Yemen vox.com. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  4. ^ Saudi blockade of Yemen still in place, amounts to collective punishment: Aid agency Presstv.com. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  5. ^ A half million people in Yemen have been affected by Cholera BBC News. 12 December 2017
  6. ^ Gulf Coalition Operations in Yemen (Part 1): The Ground War washingtoninstitute.org Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  7. ^ Mohammed bin Salman's ill-advised ventures have weakened Saudi Arabia’s position in the world alalam.ir Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  8. ^ Continuation of Saudi Arabia in Yemen www.irna.ir Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  9. ^ Saudi blockade starves Yemen of vital supplies, as bombing raids continue independent.co.uk Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  10. ^ Yemen Is Still Being Starved to Death theamericanconservative.com Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  11. ^ Yemen conflict: human rights groups urge inquiry into Saudi coalition abuses theguardian.com Retrieved 7 January 2018
  12. ^ At Least 180 Children Killed in Saudi-Led War on Yemen en.farsnews.com Retrieved 7 January 2018
  13. ^ a b c "Saudi-led naval blockade leaves 20m Yemenis facing humanitarian disaster". www.theguardian.com. 23 Dec 2017.
  14. ^ Saudi blockade leaves 20mn Yemeni in crisis worldbulletin.net Retrieved 7 January 2018
  15. ^ Saudi Arabia fatally bombs ANOTHER Yemeni hospital + 18 Billion in US weapons + Bowie democraticunderground.org Retrieved 7 January 2018
  16. ^ Trump asks Saudi Arabia to allow immediate aid to Yemen reuters.com Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  17. ^ "درخواست ترامپ از عربستان سعودی درباره یمن - اخبار تسنیم | The request of Trump from KSA about Yemen". Tasnim. Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  18. ^ Exclusive: U.S. expands intelligence sharing with Saudis in Yemen operation reuters.com Retrieved 7 January 2018
  19. ^ In Yemen's "60 minutes" moment, no mention that the U.S. is fueling the conflict theintercept.com Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  20. ^ Saudi Arabia launches airstrikes in Yemen edition.cnn.com Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  21. ^ Inside Yemen's forgotten war bbc.com Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  22. ^ Amnesty International urges Britain to stop supplying arms to Saudi Arabia independent.co.uk Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  23. ^ US expands support role in Saudi war on Yemen: Report Presstv.com Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  24. ^ "Crimes of Al-Hudaydah denotes the direct role of the U.S. in the aggression against Yemen". www.tasnimnews.com. 23 Dec 2017.
  25. ^ Saudi Arabia launches airstrikes in Yemen edition.cnn.com Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  26. ^ Britain 'fuelling war in Yemen' through arms sales, says charity telegraph.co.uk Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  27. ^ Theresa May: Saudi blockade on Yemen must be eased aljazeera.com Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  28. ^ Britain's secret role in Saudi Arabia's dirty war: UK troops are training army that has left a million on the brink of starvation, investigation finds dailymail.co.uk Retrieved 9 January 2018
  29. ^ UK secretly training Saudi troops for Yemen war: Report presstv.com Retrieved 9 January 2018
  30. ^ U.N. aid chief appeals for full lifting of Yemen blockade reuters.com Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  31. ^ Saudi Warplanes Hit Sana'a Airport to Block Humanitarian Aid en.farsnews.com Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  32. ^ United Nations calls for complete lifting of Saudi blockade tasnimnews.com Retrieved 31 December 2017.
  33. ^ No ships in Yemen's key port despite Saudi claim of lifting blockade reddit.com Retrieved 7 January 2018
  34. ^ NO SHIPS IN YEMEN’S KEY PORT DESPITE SAUDI CLAIM OF LIFTING BLOCKADE yemenpress.org Retrieved 7 January 2018
  35. ^ No Ships in Yemen's Key Port Despite Saudi Arabia Claim of Lifting Blockade en.farsnews.com Retrieved 7 January 2018
  36. ^ Saudi Arabia 'intercepts another Houthi missile' aljazeera.com Retrieved 7 January 2018
  37. ^ Yemen’s Houthi leader threatens to hit back over Saudi blockade presstv.com Retrieved 26 December 2017.
  38. ^ Al-Houthi: Abu Dhabi and Riyadh are within range of Yemini missiles / the flight of UAVs over Saudi tasnimnews.com Retrieved 26 December 2017.
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