Success: Humanitarian Aid Arrives in Yemen

Target: Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, King of Saudi Arabia

Goal: Support the reopening of two routes into Yemen to allow life-saving humanitarian aid and relief into the country.

Millions of innocent lives have been at stake in Yemen since a blockade imposed by a Saudi-led coalition has closed off every route into and out of the country. The coalition said the blockade—put in place after rebels fired missiles at the Saudi capital—is necessary to ensure the rebels do not receive weapons, but the UN warned that it will cause the worst famine in decades, depriving millions of civilians of life-saving aid. Thanks in part to petitions like this one at ForceChange, the coalition announced that the Red Sea port of Hudaydah and Sanaa’s airport would be reopened to allow humanitarian aid through.

The flights that have landed in Yemen include UN aid workers and International Red Cross staff, as well as 1.9m doses of vaccines. More than 20 million people require these resources, including 11 million children and 400,000 people suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Aid workers warn that the resources on these flights will not be enough to alleviate this suffering on their own, so while the arrival of this aid is a vital first step, much more access to the country is needed. Sign below to support the reopening of aid routes into Yemen and to demand that all such routes be made accessible.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud,

The lift of the blockade at the Red Sea port of Hudaydah and Sanaa’s airport to allow aid into Yemen was a crucial step that will help save millions of innocent lives. The people of Yemen are facing illness and famine, and are relying on imports of humanitarian aid in order to survive.

The arrival of the first aid flights in the country since the blockade was imposed is something to be celebrated. However, the UN warns that the extreme suffering in Yemen, and what could be the worst famine in decades, is too much to be addressed by those resources alone. I support the reopening of these Yemen ports, and urge you to ensure that the blockade of all other routes into Yemen also be lifted to allow through vital and life-saving aid.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: IRIN Photos