Yemen Under Siege and on the Brink of Humanitarian Catastrophe

Saudi Arabia announced on Thursday that four soldiers were killed by mortar fire from Houthi Shiites; three Saudi soldiers and one Emirati soldier. Earlier, Houthi rebels also reported that 20 civilians were killed in Saudi airstrikes on Tuesday. Despite being under bombardment from a Saudi-led regional coalition for over three months, Houthi attacks have increased in recent weeks. Houthi Shiites and their allies, loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, control a large part of eastern Yemen. In contrast, forces loyal to Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi have retained control of areas in the east with the support of foreign airstrikes. Saudi Arabia and its Arab allies want the Houthi Shiites and Ali Abdullah Saleh's forces to lay down their arms and allow Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi to return to the country and take power. He is currently in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, recognized by the UN as the legitimate president of Yemen. In the ongoing power struggle in Yemen, the biggest victim has been the Yemeni people. The UN states that Yemenis are only one step away from a major catastrophe. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the UN special envoy to Yemen, said on Wednesday that Yemen is on the brink of famine, with 31 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Nasser Al-Rubaie, a journalist and analyst based in Sana'a, described the situation: 'The situation in Yemen is catastrophic and getting worse every minute, as Yemen has been under siege from land, sea, and air for over three months. This is one of the strangest wars in the world because global powers have not been able to convince Saudi Arabia to allow humanitarian aid to reach Yemen, while according to international law, Saudi Arabia must allow this aid to enter Yemen.' On Wednesday, Anthony Grand, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Yemen, stated that aid such as food or electricity generators could directly impact the lives of tens of thousands of people in Yemen. Ordinary people are calling for the lifting of the economic blockade. However, those engaged in the conflict believe they are resisting Saudi forces and are unwilling to give up this resistance. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, in a closed-door Security Council meeting, reported on the situation in Yemen to council members. After the meeting, he told reporters that all parties involved in Yemen are responsible for the current situation of the Yemeni people. The UN special envoy also urged both sides to declare a ceasefire at least in respect of Ramadan. Mr. Cheikh Ahmed plays a mediating role in peace negotiations that have not yet yielded clear results. Mr. Al-Rubaie stated that ordinary Yemenis have a clear demand: 'Ordinary people want the economic blockade lifted. However, those at war believe they are resisting Saudi forces and are unwilling to give up this resistance. I do not think they will ever surrender to Saudi Arabia, as it has become a matter of honor for them.' Nevertheless, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, who hosted peace talks in Geneva last week, said that despite deep disagreements, both sides have shown signs of sufficient will to resolve the issue. Mr. Cheikh Ahmed added that the divide among the warring groups in Yemen was so deep that no agreement was reached between them at this time. Now, what the UN envoy hopes for a ceasefire is Ramadan and the dangerous humanitarian situation, to the extent that he has called for a humanitarian ceasefire; a request that neither side has yet responded positively to.