Yemen is the world’s worst humanitarian disaster. We couldn’t imagine that it could get any worse, and then the coronavirus pandemic hit. The figures coming out of Yemen are terrifying; 25% of people in Yemen with confirmed COVID-19 die, some cities are described as ‘infested’. This is like no other situation on Earth.

In the last 6 weeks I have lost a number of family members in Yemen to what sounds like COVID-19 - my aunt has stopped saying the names of people she knows who have passed away, and is instead giving numbers. My cousin was beside herself two weeks ago having just lost her uncle, and with her mother ill on oxygen. Her mother thankfully recovered, but then her aunt passed away.

We know these are difficult times, but if you can, please donate to a charity doing vital work in Yemen, Doctors Without Borders (MSF). There is a reason why they have the reputation they do, they have been attacked multiple times and yet are still providing life-saving treatment, on all sides of the conflict. In many places they are the only ones operating and providing coronavirus relief, whilst also providing medical care that ranges from lifesaving surgery for war wounds through to childbirth.

If you are unable to donate please contact your elected representatives demanding that they exert pressure on all sides of this conflict to a) urgently allow supplies, resources, humanitarian aid and personnel in and b) negotiate peace. Yemen is a man-made (not a natural) crisis, it is a travesty and the only real solution is peace. 

Here's the video for this campaign: https://youtu.be/b7v5ZA05KZk 

Why is it so bad?

Coronavirus is running rife in a population plagued by six years of war. Yemen’s population is suffering from disease and devastating hunger, and people’s immune systems are weak.

• Half the country is on the brink of starvation
• Diseases like cholera and diphtheria, which had been eradicated in Yemen before the war, are now rife
• 1 child under 5 dies every 10 mins from preventable disease and 45% have permanent physical or mental damage from malnutrition
• 50% of the healthcare system has been destroyed by this war
• There is no properly functioning government to orchestrate a response
• Because of the global economic crisis, donor countries are reducing or cancelling aid

The most advanced healthcare systems in the world are struggling to cope with COVID-19, please don’t forget Yemen. This stunningly beautiful and ancient place needs your attention. Our families and friends have been through enough.

What MSF could do with your donation?:

• £6 / $8 can pay for seven oxygen masks
• £10 / $13 can provide eight dressing for wounds
• £17 / $21 can provide two leg splints to treat fractures
• £31 / $39 can pay for 40 oxygen masks
• £97 / $123 can pay for a physiotherapist for one day
• £226 / $286 can provide a surgery set for an MSF hospital in Yemen
• £828 / $1046 can pay for six folding wheelchairs
• £1,806 / $2282 can provide eight surgery sets for our hospitals in Yemen
• £3,679 / $4648 can pay for a physiotherapist for 38 days
• £6,035 / $7626 can pay for five specialised abdominal surgery sets

For Americans looking to make a major gift and who are interested in US tax deductible donations, please get in touch with Rose Petherick on rose.petherick@london.msf.org

Looking to start up your own Just Giving fundraising campaign? Please do and feel free to use this video!