As a result of the conflict in Yemen, Aden, Yemen is starting to resemble a “ghost city,” according to Robert Ghosen. Ghosen is the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Aden, and he states that a Monday flight with medical supplies for Yemen was delayed because of logistical problems. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 450 people have died since the conflict began.
Although several groups are involved, the main agents of the conflict are supporters of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi and Houthi rebels. Saudi Arabia has engaged in air strikes to decrease the influence of the Houthi rebels for the past two weeks, but civilians are suffering many of the consequences as well. Ghosen told the BBC News, “We are seeing a lot of people arriving dead at the hospital or dying in the hospitals.” He also stated that many hospitals are understaffed and not fully equipped to handle the various patients coming in.
The ICRC has requested a 24-hour ceasefire so that humanitarian aid can more easily enter the city of Aden, which is currently not functioning. ICRC was able to land a plane with passengers in Yemen on Monday, but was unable to distribute medical supplies brought along with passengers because of the security risks posed by the current conflict. UNICEF has also revealed that 74 of those who’ve died during the conflict are children.
According to Ghosen, nothing seems to be functioning in Aden at the moment. Adding to the conflict, President Hadi fled Yemen two weeks ago as a result of increasing conflict in Aden and is now in Saudi Arabia.
Conflict in Yemen: Keeping Track of Who is Fighting
Although there are two major parties involved in the Yemeni conflict (the Houthi Rebels and President Hadi), there are other forces involved such as Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), and the Islamic State (IS). AQAP is considered dangerous by the United States, and is against both the Houthi and President Hadi. The Islamic State holds a similar platform, but seeks to outshine AQAP, The National Counterrorism Center.
Saudia Arabia has alleged that the Houthi rebels are being supported from Iran, and Iran has stated that they aren’t, in fact, supporting the group. The Houthi rebels justify their fight with the accusation that President Hadi and the Yemeni government are corrupt, and they’re supported by fighters who support the ousted former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
A video story showing 31 undiscovered, undeveloped rolls of film from World War II that was found:
