Fears increase for Yemen

Yemen, a country of 30 million located between Saudi Arabia and Ethiopia, has suffered six years of war and is described by the United Nations as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. More than 110,000 people are believed to have died, millions are on the brink of starvation, and disease outbreaks and malnutrition are compounding. Close to half the population is under age 15.

A coalition led by Saudi Arabia and until recently supported by the United States has been fighting against Houthi rebels, followers of a Shi’a Muslim cleric supported by Iran. U.S. President Joe Biden has now ended U.S. sales of arms and support for offensive operations that date back to the Trump and Obama administrations.

David Curry, president of the persecution watchdog Open Doors USA, worries about heightened persecution of the tiny population of 3,000 Christians. He points to a “Houthi political agenda against Christians. They are detaining [Christians]. They’re torturing pastors and leaders in the country.”

Open Doors ranks Yemen as the seventh-worst country globally when it comes to Christian persecution on its annual World Watch List. WWW. CHRISTIANPOST.COM