On January 27, 2011, thousands of Yemenis pounded the streets to demand the departure of their autocratic leader Ali Abdallah Saleh.
Ten years later, the democratic transition desired by the demonstrators remains at a standstill.
Since 2015, the country has plunged into a deadly war between Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, and government forces, backed by Saudi Arabia and its military coalition, backed by the United States.
A conflict that has claimed the lives of more than 230,000 people, according to the UN, and caused a mass exodus of population within the country.
France 24 takes stock with Jean-Nicolas Beuze, head of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in the capital Sanaa.
Why does the UN now consider the crisis in Yemen to be the world's worst humanitarian crisis?
This assessment is based on the number of people requiring assistance as well as the magnitude of the need.
Twenty million Yemenis today depend on humanitarian aid on a daily basis - two-thirds of the population.
One in eight Yemenis has taken refuge in their own country in very poor security conditions.
Between 80 and 90% of staple foods such as rice and flour are imported.
However, this delivery is very fragile because the conflict is active and several million people are exposed to the risk of famine.
Access to health is very poor, 50% of health centers have been destroyed in the clashes, with the risk of epidemics, especially cholera.
Finally, the embargo on fuel imposed by the international coalition in the North generates enormous logistical problems.
The conflict generates a massive migratory crisis, yet few
Yemenis
leave the country, how do you explain this situation?
Yemen is one of the countries with the largest number of internally displaced people in the world today, nearly 4 million.
But it is almost impossible for Yemenis to leave the country because their main border, in the north, is controlled by Saudi Arabia, which is involved in the conflict.
Their only options are to try to reach their other land neighbor, Oman, by crossing a desert area partly controlled by Al-Qaeda or to take the sea to Somalia or Eritrea via the Gulf of Aden, a sea route. very dangerous.
It should be noted that 130,000 Somalis and Eritreans, who fled war and dictatorship, have already taken refuge in Yemen in extremely precarious situations.
Yemen AFP
In addition, there is an important cultural aspect: Yemen is a tribal society where the elders have to take care of their families and where it is frowned upon to abandon the dead.
In the end, this situation poses a huge security issue with millions of people forced to live as refugees in their own country, with no possible stability because the lines of conflict are constantly evolving.
Humanitarian organizations deplore the lack of media coverage and humanitarian aid for Yemen, is this linked to the migration issue?
Unlike other areas such as Syria, Afghanistan or Somalia, the Yemeni migration crisis is not considered a threat to Europe or even to the region.
This partly explains the lack of media coverage and the difficulty in raising funds.
The delivery of aid is also very complicated: you have to make a request for each operation, everything is controlled by the authorities and some donors fear that their money will be diverted to finance terrorist companies.
Finally, the complexity of the conflict and the involvement of Saudi Arabia, which has trade agreements with most of the great powers, also partly explain the weak mobilization of the international community.
Humanitarian funding today only meets 60% of needs.
We are not talking here of rebuilding homes or farms but of emergency needs: a roof for the night and food survival.
The first funding for this aid comes from Saudi Arabia, which is both a donor and actor in the conflict.
In
2011,
a citizens' movement emerged
to bring down the
hegemonic power of President Ali Abdallah Saleh.
Ten years
later, when
the situation has deteriorated considerably, what remains of the citizens' aspirations?
In the current situation, the priority for most Yemenis is daily survival.
People have little hope that a political solution will resolve the conflict.
Of course, the change of administration in the United States could play an important role because Joe Biden is much less favorable to the Saudi regime than Donald Trump was.
But even as the foreign military engagement evolves, the internal conflict over control of oil resources and tribal struggles remain.
Today, the political resolution is deadlocked and the war continues.
We are in a race against time, in particular to minimize the effects of malnutrition, which has devastating effects on children and is likely to affect the Yemeni population in the long term.
Our priority is not to improve the lives of citizens but to keep their heads above water to prevent drowning.
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