For the last eight years, a civil war has systematically destroyed Yemen. This war has caused one of the most significant humanitarian crises in the world, with around 23.4 million people needing assistance, including almost 13 million children. This may seem overwhelming or leave you wondering how you can donate to the Yemenis in need, so let's dig a little deeper.
Eight years of conflict have brought Yemen’s socioeconomic systems to the edge of total collapse. It has led to large-scale displacement; climate change issues have also left families vulnerable to infectious diseases. By late 2022, more than 17.8 million people did not have access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene services, and there continue to be regular outbreaks of cholera, measles, diphtheria, and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
This war has caused widespread hunger and poverty in Yemen, leaving millions of children malnourished. Already weakened health systems have been further devastated by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It's estimated that 16.2 million people in the country will face high levels of acute food shortages, with an estimated 21,000 children at risk of falling into famine.
Thousands of children have been killed or maimed since the beginning of the conflict. This ongoing humanitarian crisis has increased the vulnerability of children and women to exploitation, violence and abuse, child labor, killing and maiming, recruitment, and use of children as combatants and in various support roles, domestic and gender-based violence, child marriage, and psychosocial distress.
In this time of dire need, Zakat Foundation of America has not forgotten our brothers and sisters in Yemen. Thanks to your generous donations, we have worked in Yemen for more than 10 years, providing food security, emergency relief, health and well-being, and livelihoods.
With so many people in Yemen facing food insecurity, Zakat Foundation responded by distributing solar- and fuel-powered generators; these can double sesame cooking oil pressure production and increase incomes and food availability.
"Prevent starvation. That's our donors' top priority in Yemen," said Halil Demir, executive director at Zakat Foundation of America.
Beyond assisting with food security, we are also working to ensure Yemen’s people can secure the necessities for their lives; we do this through our livelihoods program.
One such program is done through the partnership between Zakat Foundation of America and Mercy –Corps. This is a joint project to build food security in Yemen by funding and training hundreds of local Yemeni sesame growers. The project will increase their yield's quality, quantity, and availability as part of a long-term answer to food insecurity in war-ravaged Yemen. Halil Demir stated, "It is also imperative to look ahead and help them produce food locally and bring it to local markets because this is far more stabilizing for them nutritionally and economically, even socially — and that is most critical if you look at the realities there."
It has been eight years of war and turmoil for the people of Yemen. Don’t let 2023 pass without donating to help send aid to help ease these struggles.