‘Yemen is bleeding’: Minister’s plea to UN food forum
Anna
Pukas, Arab News, 11 May 2018
Minister
says the three-and-a-half-year conflict between Iran-backed Houthi militias and
Yemen government forces had cost the country’s agriculture industry more than
$10 million. More than 70 percent of Yemenis depend on farming for their
livelihood and the overall jobless rate is now about 40 percent.
says the three-and-a-half-year conflict between Iran-backed Houthi militias and
Yemen government forces had cost the country’s agriculture industry more than
$10 million. More than 70 percent of Yemenis depend on farming for their
livelihood and the overall jobless rate is now about 40 percent.
 |
| Food aid is distributed to Yemenis in Al Hajjah city in northern Yemen on April 29, 2018. (AFP / ESSA AHMED) |
ROME: The
war in Yemen has made “the whole country bleed,” a Yemeni minister told a
conference on eliminating hunger in conflict zones.
war in Yemen has made “the whole country bleed,” a Yemeni minister told a
conference on eliminating hunger in conflict zones.
Othman
Hussein Faid Mujali, Yemen’s minister of agriculture and irrigation, said the
September day in 2014 when the Houthis mounted their coup was “the worst moment
in our history.”
Hussein Faid Mujali, Yemen’s minister of agriculture and irrigation, said the
September day in 2014 when the Houthis mounted their coup was “the worst moment
in our history.”
Addressing
the Near East Regional Conference at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) in Rome, Mujali said: “The Houthis have destroyed all that Yemen has
achieved. They made the whole country bleed. Transport, services, health,
education, water, electricity — all added to our indignity.”
the Near East Regional Conference at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) in Rome, Mujali said: “The Houthis have destroyed all that Yemen has
achieved. They made the whole country bleed. Transport, services, health,
education, water, electricity — all added to our indignity.”
The
three-and-a-half-year conflict between Iran-backed Houthi militias and Yemen
government forces had cost the country’s agriculture industry more than $10
million, the minister said.
three-and-a-half-year conflict between Iran-backed Houthi militias and Yemen
government forces had cost the country’s agriculture industry more than $10
million, the minister said.
“Crops
have been deleted. There are almost no irrigation channels.”
have been deleted. There are almost no irrigation channels.”
More than
70 percent of Yemenis work in farming and the overall jobless rate is now about
40 percent. He appealed for veterinary assistance to save livestock and “pave
the way for reconstruction.”
70 percent of Yemenis work in farming and the overall jobless rate is now about
40 percent. He appealed for veterinary assistance to save livestock and “pave
the way for reconstruction.”
Amir
Abdullah, deputy executive director of the World Food Program (WFP), said 18
million out of 29 million Yemenis lacked regular access to food and 2 million
of those were badly malnourished.
Abdullah, deputy executive director of the World Food Program (WFP), said 18
million out of 29 million Yemenis lacked regular access to food and 2 million
of those were badly malnourished.
“It seems
impossible to lay the foundations for the future in such conditions, but that’s
what we must do,” he said. “The WFP aims to bring lifesaving assistance, but
it’s just a sticking plaster. It will not solve the problems of the future.”
impossible to lay the foundations for the future in such conditions, but that’s
what we must do,” he said. “The WFP aims to bring lifesaving assistance, but
it’s just a sticking plaster. It will not solve the problems of the future.”
Lebanon
is not at war, but is suffering as a “spillover country,” the Lebanese minister
for agriculture, Ghazi Zeaiter, told a sideline event at the conference, which
he also chaired.
is not at war, but is suffering as a “spillover country,” the Lebanese minister
for agriculture, Ghazi Zeaiter, told a sideline event at the conference, which
he also chaired.
“Lebanon
is directly affected by the war in Syria. Seven years after it started, we are
hosting 1.5 million displaced Syrians, half of them children. This is on top of
34,000 Palestinians displaced from Syria and 277,000 Palestinians who were
already in Lebanon,” Zeaiter said.
is directly affected by the war in Syria. Seven years after it started, we are
hosting 1.5 million displaced Syrians, half of them children. This is on top of
34,000 Palestinians displaced from Syria and 277,000 Palestinians who were
already in Lebanon,” Zeaiter said.
Housing
such a large number of refugees — more than any other country — has cost
Lebanon $18 billion and led to a 31 percent fall in exports. About 85 percent
of the country’s agricultural exports used to go through Syria to the Gulf, but
that route was now closed. The country is also spending 18 percent more of its
budget on imports.
such a large number of refugees — more than any other country — has cost
Lebanon $18 billion and led to a 31 percent fall in exports. About 85 percent
of the country’s agricultural exports used to go through Syria to the Gulf, but
that route was now closed. The country is also spending 18 percent more of its
budget on imports.
“Thirty-two
percent of Lebanese now live below the poverty line and 10 percent of
households are food-insecure,” said Zeaiter.
percent of Lebanese now live below the poverty line and 10 percent of
households are food-insecure,” said Zeaiter.
The
presence of Syrian refugees has meant greater competition for jobs, and weak
border controls have led to more pest infestation with open-grazing and
pollution of the soil and underground water sources.
presence of Syrian refugees has meant greater competition for jobs, and weak
border controls have led to more pest infestation with open-grazing and
pollution of the soil and underground water sources.
Pasquale
Steduto, FAO regional program leader for the Near East and North Africa, told
Arab News that countries could go to war over water unless they learn to
control supplies.
Steduto, FAO regional program leader for the Near East and North Africa, told
Arab News that countries could go to war over water unless they learn to
control supplies.
“The gap
between water supply and demand is widening. It is accelerating and
accelerating rapidly,” he said. “Water sources in the Middle East are finite.
There is cooperation over trans-boundary issues, but that can be pushed. If
it’s pushed too hard, then there could be war over water.”
between water supply and demand is widening. It is accelerating and
accelerating rapidly,” he said. “Water sources in the Middle East are finite.
There is cooperation over trans-boundary issues, but that can be pushed. If
it’s pushed too hard, then there could be war over water.”
