Yemen

This war led to the death of hundreds of thousands of innocent Yemenis due to violence, hunger, or disease. The situation in Yemen continues to deteriorate, with over 18.2 million people, out of a total population of 35 million, now requiring humanitarian assistance.

After nearly a decade-long conflict where Saudi Arabia’s airstrikes and military actions couldn’t subdue the Houthis, a period of relative calm and hopes for a lasting truce emerged. However, Houthi militants began attacking ships in the Red Sea, citing Israel’s actions in Gaza as their motivation. In response, the United States launched airstrikes in Yemen against the Houthis, escalating the violence once again. Like Saudi Arabia’s military campaign, these U.S. airstrikes have been ineffective in halting Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, while further intensifying the humanitarian crisis and raising shipping costs to Yemen, a nation highly dependent on imports.

U.S. airstrikes have been ineffective in halting Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

International donor funding has dwindled as attention shifts to other global crises, further straining relief efforts. In December 2023, the World Food Programme suspended food distribution in Houthi-controlled areas due to limited funding and disagreements with Houthi authorities. Recent warnings from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and UNICEF representatives highlight the escalating food insecurity and malnutrition crisis, threatening to unravel progress made in recent years.

Following years of advocacy urging Congress to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for its use of U.S.-supplied military aid and human rights violations, Senators Chris Murphy (CT) and Mike Lee (UT) introduced S.R.109 in March 2023. This resolution invokes Section 502B(c) of the Foreign Assistance Act, and if enacted, would compel the State Department to investigate Saudi Arabia’s human rights violations.

FCNL strives to halt the violence in Yemen and works to bring peace to the Yemeni people after nearly a decade of conflict.

FCNL strives to halt the violence in Yemen and works to bring peace to the Yemeni people after nearly a decade of conflict. Congress must enact legislation to cease U.S. military involvement in attacks on Yemen, encourage a true ceasefire deal between Yemen’s warring parties, work to lift restrictions on ports and airports in Yemen, and ensure that crucial humanitarian aid reaches those requiring assistance.