The war in Yemen is the world's worst humanitarian disaster. 2M children at risk of starving to death.
I spent the last 5 days in the Middle East pushing for a ceasefire.
Yemen gets little attention in the U.S., but you should know how this war can end.
1/ A short thread:
I spent the last 5 days in the Middle East pushing for a ceasefire.
Yemen gets little attention in the U.S., but you should know how this war can end.
1/ A short thread:
2/ President Biden has made ending the Yemen war a priority, and this matters.
He stopped U.S. offensive support for the Saudi side of the war, and he named veteran diplomat Tim Lenderking Special Envoy. There is new momentum toward a ceasefire bc of Biden's new approach.
He stopped U.S. offensive support for the Saudi side of the war, and he named veteran diplomat Tim Lenderking Special Envoy. There is new momentum toward a ceasefire bc of Biden's new approach.
3/ There are three things that must happen to stave off a coming famine. I went to the region to join Lenderking, UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths, and other Biden officials to blanket the region in pursuit of these goals.
They are:
They are:
4/ First, the Houthis must stop their assault on the city of Marib. If the Houthis enter Marib, a new humanitarian nightmare will ensue as legions of Yemenis will flee the violence.
I was in Oman (w/ Lenderking/Griffiths) to push the Omanis to convince the Houthis to stand down.
I was in Oman (w/ Lenderking/Griffiths) to push the Omanis to convince the Houthis to stand down.
5/ Second, the Saudis must end their blockade of key ports and the Sana'a airport. Without the ability to freely import food, fuel and other goods, Yemen's economy has come to a grinding halt, causing disease and starvation.
6/ Third, the UN needs to be resourced to provide food, water, and health care to those in dire need. Right now, the 2021 UN appeal is only a third funded. I went to Qatar to ask the Qataris, who have not yet made a contribution this year, to step up.
7/ If the Houthis end the Marib siege, and the Saudis open up the ports, then a ceasefire, which could lead to a peace process, is possible.
But any prospect of a ceasefire/peace process needs active U.S. engagement, and it was good to have so many U.S. officials in the region.
But any prospect of a ceasefire/peace process needs active U.S. engagement, and it was good to have so many U.S. officials in the region.
8/ But ultimately, Yemenis will dictate the future of their country. So the peace process shouldn't include only the same power brokers who have caused decades of endless wars. New voices need to be at the table, to ensure that all Yemenis have a say on the country's future.
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