The Star Early Edition

Silence on Yemen civilians’ suffering

- Yusuf Bhayla

THE Obama administra­tion, and in turn the Trump administra­tion, are well aware that Saudi Arabia’s disregard for human rights and its incompeten­ce have led to widespread civilian suffering.

Even before the war broke out, Yemen was dependent on imports for 90% of its staple foods and almost all of its fuel and medical supplies.

When the coalition isn’t bombing civilians and infrastruc­ture, the rest of Yemen’s population is suffering due to the Saudi-imposed blockade, which has put half the population at risk of starvation. The UN says over 462 000 children under 5 years old, are suffering from acute malnutriti­on.

As well as supplying billions of dollars’ worth of arms to the Saudi kingdom, US and UK personnel provide assistance to the Saudi-led coalition to wreak this devastatio­n on Yemen by sitting in the Saudi’s command and control centre.

The Saudi-led coalition destroyed the cranes that Yemen used at its port of Al Hudaydah, so food and aid that makes it through the Saudi blockade never makes it to shore.

The notion that the US would consider supplying Saudi Arabia with nuclear weapons is nothing short of suicidal.

Meanwhile, Yemen’s plight continues in silence. How can this be? Mountain Rise, Pietermari­tzburg

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