Yemen, the never-ending war that is not mentioned

How do you tell the tragedy of a country where death is the order of the day? With what words is described the sense of helplessness that millions of civilians who have been forced to live with the war for seven years feel. Let’s talk about the Yemena forgotten conflict about which Doctors Without Borders decided to turn on a spotlight. Because war can never become a habit.

“To date, after almost seven years of conflict, we are unable to see the light and the population is in dramatic humanitarian conditions”, he explains Federica Ferraresi Head of Mission of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Yemen. «Suffice it to say that most civilians do not have autonomy of survival but must rely on humanitarian aid. The health personnel of the ministry of health with whom we work often do not receive wages and the only income is that of the perceived incentive for working with us “.

There is a lack of basic necessities: water, electricity, gas. “Often the infrastructures have been damaged. There is a lack of food, fuel, due to the restrictions on imports due to the difficulties of moving in a territory that is divided in two and is separated by a front line ». There are over four million internally displaced people and they are forced to constantly move due to the very unstable front line.

About 50% of the health facilities are not functioning and in the active ones the staff are not paid. It has become a luxury to be treated in Yemen, all health care is paid for, often the closest health facilities are either beyond the conflict line or to avoid putting their lives at risk, civilians have to reach the most distant clinics, with high travel times and costs “.

According to the latest data from the United Nations, more than 370 thousand victims are caused by the war. 40% are direct victims while 60% indirect. “The economic system is collapsing, inflation has reached unacceptable levels, people are unable to buy food that is in stores because it costs a lot and the data shows that the situation is destined to worsen. In the last three months of 2021 alone we have had 50% more injuries ».

MSF started working in Yemen in 1986 and has been permanently present in the country since 2007. His teams work in 12 hospitals and provide support to 16 other permanent health facilities in 13 governorates. In addition, MSF works with mobile clinics to reach the displaced people who are scattered in about 150 camps.

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Source: Vanity Fair

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