War. Famine. COVID-19. Yemen is facing an emergency within an emergency, with more than 24 million people (80% of the country’s population) in need of humanitarian assistance. 

COVID-19 is rapidly tearing up Yemen. 85 thousand are expected to die from the virus adding to the hundreds of thousands killed from war and famine. This worst-case scenario will be Yemen’s death toll with the current cut back in funding for necessities and more arms access supporting the conflict.

“10.2 million children do not have access to basic healthcare” (UNICEF). Lack of sanitation and clean water. Only a half of health facilities are functioning, and those that remain lack necessities such as masks, gloves, oxygen and ventilators required to treat coronavirus. Essential health workers are receiving no salaries and no incentives. This is all escalating the living hell Yemen has been facing for 5 years.

By the end of 2020, whilst we’re preparing for a second COVID-19 wave, 2.4 million children in Yemen could be pushed to the brink of starvation and 5 million under the age of 5 will have no access to vaccines against life-threatening diseases (UNICEF). My late Grandmother was a family social worker, she worked above and beyond to give other children the love we were blessed with. She did not see children by their races, and cared for them equally, I have even met a child under her care and felt privileged to share my Grandmother with her. We need to do as much as we can, share that same love to hopefully see children thrive and not let more innocent children die.

My family are experiencing the storm of pain and destruction that coronavirus can leave through losing our Grandfather, I cannot fathom the pain of losing your family to coronavirus amongst conflict, starvation and other diseases. Yemen needs our help. Which is why I want to push myself and run 10 KM in my local park. I would like to thank you so much for reading and I hope you can donate and sign as many petitions as you can to help Yemen. Thank you.

Date of run: 25/10/2020 

Petitions to sign:

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/326932

http://chng.it/cSg589ZfbS

https://www.amnesty.org/en/get-involved/take-action/yemen-stop-weapons-transfers/

The work of International Rescue Committee: 

https://www.rescue-uk.org/country/yemen#how-does-the-irc-help-in-yemen