Tell Congress to end Yemen war

Yemen’s civil war may be far away, but the American people can still do something to stop it. We can save millions of Yemenis who are starving because of fighting by a Saudi Arabia led coalition against Houthi rebels.

You can raise your voice to support peace and humanitarian aid for Yemen. We must first encourage Congress to pass the Yemen War Powers Resolution to end U.S. support of the Saudi coalition.

The Trump administration is providing targeting and logistical assistance for the Saudi coalition, which has prolonged the conflict. Saudi airstrikes, which have killed Yemeni civilians, have been helped by the U.S military aid. Some members of Congress want to end this U.S. involvement by passing the Yemen War Powers Resolution in the Senate and House.

Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut says “I am optimistic that Congress will once again sound the alarm over the atrocities committed in Yemen and end U.S. support for the Saudi-led coalition that is killing thousands of civilians, blocking humanitarian aid, and arming radical militias.”

Murphy and his co-sponsors believe passing the resolution will encourage peace negotiations since it will send a clear signal to the combatants the U.S. will no longer support the war in Yemen.

Michael Helms of Oxfam America says “US leaders must remain engaged to make sure Yemeni families experience the peace that leaders have promised but have yet to fully deliver. Congress and other leaders must ramp up pressure on all sides to ensure parties live up to their agreements and continue negotiating in good faith.”

Time is running out. There are 15.9 million Yemenis on the brink of famine because of food shortages caused by the war and military blockades. The UN World Food Program and relief partners need safe access to all civilians. Children are suffering the most.

“We’ve heard stories of children freezing in the cold winter months because they lack adequate shelter and families can’t afford the fuel needed to light a fire” says Tamer Kirolos of Save the Children in Yemen.

Save the Children estimates that 85,000 Yemeni children have died from extreme hunger and disease since the war began in 2015. Every day that passes in war-torn Yemen means more children succumbing to deadly malnutrition. This must stop.

The fighting has been most intense in the Hodeidah governorate, which has the key port for bringing in food and other supplies. A recent ceasefire has failed to produce enough results. Carolyn Miles, President of Save the Children, says the “Hodeidah port is still not operating at the levels needed to address the urgent humanitarian needs of millions of Yemenis.”

Miles warns “That translates to children dying from entirely preventable causes because vital food and medicine just aren’t getting into the country. We have seen little evidence that anything has changed for the people of Yemen, especially children, who continue to suffer.”

The United States must raise its collective voice against the war. Everyone can ask their representative in Congress to support The Yemen War Powers Resolution and end U.S. involvement in the conflict.

Every citizen can tell Congress to support hunger relief for Yemen through our Food for Peace and McGovern-Dole programs.

You can send a clear message supporting peace and food for Yemen. Your actions can save Yemeni children from starvation.

William Lambers is an author who partnered with the UN World Food Program and Catholic Relief Services on the book Ending World Hunger.