Last week, Karam reaffirmed its commitment to working with communities to amplify the voices of the marginalized. From Black men and women in the States to Syrian refugees in Turkey, hardship straddles the globe, its grasp at times seemingly unyielding. Yet in the face of daunting adversity, we remain committed to uplifting our disenfranchised brothers and sisters.
Despite limited media coverage, Yemen is currently facing the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. As the country enters its sixth year of war, UN estimates put the number of casualties at 233,000, with at least 85,000 of those deaths attributed to children. A Yemeni child dies every 11 minutes, often from preventable causes. Now, in the midst of a pandemic, these number are only set to rise. The mortality rate for COVID-19 in Yemen is as high as 25%. Despite widespread suffering, crippling food shortages, and mounting malnutrition, the World Food Programme was forced to halt half their aid in April.
With such overwhelming numbers, it may be easier to become paralyzed into action. But Karam remains confident that any challenge can be surmounted if we work in unison. To that end, we compiled a list of actionable steps anyone can take.
Educate Yourself
Assisting and lobbying for individuals cannot be done without knowledge of context. Staying informed is the cornerstone for good activism. Here are a few notable voices to follow and works to go over:
- Watch Yemen: The Silent War, a short documentary on Yemeni refugees living at the Markazi Refugee Camp. Not only would you be learning more about the lived experiences of real refuges, but also supporting a Yemeni filmmaker, Sufian Abulohom.
- Follow the Yemeni Alliance a Committee, an advocacy group created by a collision of Yemenis for Yemen.
- Follow Mwatna, an on-the-ground Yemeni organization that bravely investigates and reports human rights violations. Talk a stand for human rights and support investigative journalists.
Call Your Representative
In early April, USAID suspended aid programs to northern Yemen just as the country’s healthcare system was to be tested due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Call your representative and ask them to consider supporting restoring funding to agencies such as USAID and WFP.
The human cost of the war in Yemen is so large it can veer into abstraction. How has the global community allowed this humanitarian crisis to go unchecked for six years? The COVID-19 Pandemic has left no one unscathed. As we continue to move forward with our lives, we implore you to remember that this brush with uncertainty and fear is not so impermanent for many. It is the co-author of the many lives underserved and overlooked by the powerful. Please help us change that by opening your hearts and minds and giving back to Yemen, just as you have done for Syria.
Donate
The Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation is at the forefront of raising awareness of Yemen’s condition, bringing about peace, and spearheading relief efforts. They provide healthcare services, clean water, clothing, education, and more, including food aid to the 10 million Yemenis at the brink of famine.