11/27
The UN, after completing a delivery of 1.9 million diphtheria vaccines shortly after the Saudi-led coalition reopened Yemen’s airspace to humanitarian flights, stated that the successful delivery through the San’a airport “cannot be a one-off,” because nearly every Yemeni child is in need of further humanitarian assistance.
The Nobel Women’s Initiative, a group of women Nobel peace laureates, urged Saudi Arabia to end the blockade on Yemen because of how it denies humanitarian assistance - food, fuel, and medical aid - to millions of civilians.
The World Health Organization delivered 1,000 vials of anti-toxins and 17 tons of medical supplies to San’a, much of which is designated for the diphtheria outbreak.
Controversy has arisen over the Greek government’s arms deal with Saudi Arabia that fell through. The supreme court prosecutor ordered an investigation over whether a middleman was illegally used to broker the deal, and other members of Parliament have questioned the sale to a country carrying out a bombing campaign in Yemen.
11/29
The International Committee of the Red Cross is buying 750,000 liters of fuel for pumping and sanitation in Yemen to provide clean water in the cities of al-Hudaydah and Ta’iz. The coalition has still not allowed fuel tankers to dock at Yemen’s ports, despite a nationwide fuel shortage.
Clashes between Houthi and Saleh forces killed four Saleh supporters in San’a. The fighting occurred around the Saleh Mosque complex, and Saleh’s GPC Party accused the Houthis of trying to use the mosque to stage a political rally.
An IS car bomb that targeted the finance ministry building killed five people and wounded twelve more in the city of Aden.
11/30
Saudi Arabia shot down a Houthi ballistic missile near the city of Khamis Mushait, in the southwest of the country. This is the second Houthi missile that Saudi Arabia shot down in November.
An Economist article explains that the war and humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen is largely unnoticed by the international community. Countries such as the US and UK support Saudi Arabia, who leads the coalition in Yemen, militarily and diplomatically, decreasing the chances of ending the war.
A panel of UN sanctions monitors reported that remnants of four Houthi missiles shot into Saudi Arabia appear to be of Iranian origin but that there’s no evidence of the identity of the broker or supplier.
Greek members of Parliament and several human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have urged the Greek government to scrap its arms deal with Saudi Arabia because of the possibility that they could be used against civilians in Yemen. The government stated that it would abide by the European Parliament’s decision on embargoing arms to Saudi Arabia.
UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson stated that the Yemen humanitarian crisis is the worst in the world, and Prime Minister Theresa May promised to bring up the issue of Yemen to Saudi authorities on her visit to the country. However, despite evidence that UK arms are used against civilians in Yemen and the domestic unpopularity of the sales, the UK continues to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia.
During her tour in Saudi Arabia, UK Prime Minister Theresa May called on Saudi Arabia to ease the siege on Yemen in order to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe. It specified that commercial imports must be allowed in to address the crisis.
The leader of the Scottish National Party in the UK criticized the government for failing to suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia who perpetrates the devastating war in Yemen.
12/1
The UN appealed for a budget of $22.5 billion for humanitarian funds, over $10 billion of which is designated for Syria and Yemen.
UN Humanitarian Chief Mark Lowcock urged Saudi Arabia to fully lift its blockade on Yemen, stating that eight million people are on the brink of famine and allowing humanitarian aid imports isn’t sufficient.
12/2
UN leaders called on the Saudi-led coalition to fully lift its blockade of the Red Sea ports of Yemen. Although Saudi Arabia has allowed humanitarian aid to enter the ports, it continues to restrict commercial imports, which include food and fuel vital for the functioning of water systems and hospitals.
After four days of fighting between Houthi-Saleh forces, former president Saleh announced that he would agree to talks with Saudi Arabia if it would lift the blockade. The announcement spurred a wave of violence between the Houthis and Saleh’s forces, with reports estimating that 100 people were killed in clashes in San’a.
UK members of Parliament were criticized for not showing up to a debate about the crisis in Yemen, since only 30 out of 650 MPs attended.
The European Parliament adopted a resolution reiterating its call for an EU embargo on arms sales to Saudi Arabia over its alleged war crimes in Yemen. It also criticizes EU members who continue to sell arms to Saudi Arabia and urges parties to the conflict in Yemen to agree to a ceasefire and return to peace talks.
12/3
Clashes between Houthi and Saleh forces continue in San’a. It’s reported that the Houthis control many of the state institutions, including the airport, and the Houthis have surrounded the compound where Saleh lives. The Houthis have stated that they consider Saleh a part of the Saudi-led coalition.
UAE denies that the Houthis shot a missile aimed at a nuclear plant under construction in Abu Dhabi. They added that the UAE has an air defense system that is capable of addressing such threats.
The World Health Organization has documented 197 cases of diphtheria in Yemen. Diphtheria has spread to 13 out of the 22 governorates and has killed 22 people so far.
The World Health Organization warned that another wave of cholera could hit Yemen because of the lack of fuel, which provides for water sanitation, and aid, which includes food, as millions of people are on the brink of famine and more susceptible to the disease.
Saleh forces deny that the Houthis have gained control over much of San’a, while the Houthis claim that they have taken over three military bases, the diplomatic district, and several neighborhoods.
12/4
Former president Saleh was killed in San’a in a Houthi attack as he was attempting to flee his home. President Hadi offered his condolences to the family members of Saleh, and the UN called for an immediate cessation of hostilities because civilians are trapped in their homes and hospitals are unable to take care of those injured in the fighting.