In Yemen: 21.6 million face urgent needs in 2023 due to conflict, economic collapse, financing gaps, global inflation and food shortages, with the Humanitarian Response Plan 38.3% funded.
Summary
Human Security in Conflict Zones: A Priority for Yemen
• The Yemeni Houthi authorities ordered United Nations employees holding American or British citizenship to leave the country.
• The US government has added the Houthis to its list of terrorist groups to curb attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.
• Yemen faces a massive humanitarian crisis with 21.6 million people in need in 2023.
• The 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) is only 38.3% funded, forcing aid organizations to reduce or close critical programs.
• Declining human security can escalate into wider conflict due to vulnerabilities, resource competition, economic hardships, regional spillover effects, weak governance, and exacerbated tensions.
The Houthi authorities in Yemen ordered the United States and the United Kingdom to evacuate their citizens - who work for United Nations organizations - from Yemen within a month, following US and British strikes against commercial ships attacked in the Red Sea.
The US government has added the Houthis to its list of terrorist groups to curb attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.
All of these developments come amid catastrophic humanitarian conditions in Yemen, and at a time when warnings are already increasing about the worsening crisis in the country, even without the recent escalations.
Yemen faces a massive humanitarian crisis, with 21.6 million people in need in 2023. The crisis is exacerbated by conflict, economic collapse, funding gaps, global inflation, and food shortages. The 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) is only 38.3% funded, forcing aid organizations to reduce or close critical programs.
Despite these challenges, 219 organizations continue to provide life-saving aid to millions, including food assistance, WASH services, healthcare, and nutrition support. However, the escalation of the conflict and the withdrawal of US and British citizenship could be one of the increasingly negative side effects of the escalation.
Human security is a top priority in conflict zones such as Yemen. The various parties involved in the conflict must pay significant attention to various aspects of human security, including but not limited to access to basic needs, humanitarian assistance, social cohesion and community resilience, displacement and refugee issues, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding efforts.
To mitigate the effects of the conflict and enhance human security in Yemen, efforts must continue to assess the availability and accessibility of necessities such as food, water, shelter, and healthcare and evaluate the efficacy and availability of humanitarian aid and relief efforts, evaluate the effects of conflict on social structures, community relationships, and traditional support systems.
Analyzing community resilience in the face of conflict is important too, as well as their ability to maintain social cohesion. Moreover, attention must be paid to examining the extent of displacement and the living conditions of internally displaced people (IDPs) and refugees and evaluating the ability of displaced people to find safety, shelter, and resources.
Current efforts to end the conflict and promote peace in the region must be continued. as well as Evaluating the effectiveness of peacebuilding efforts and their impact on human security.
Yemen cannot alone address all of these human security needs without international cooperation and funding, which is in serious decline.
Declining human security can escalate into wider conflict due to various interrelated factors. Vulnerability and grievances arising from threats to safety, lack of basic needs, and human rights abuses can lead to social unrest.
Displacement may intensify competition for resources, eroding social cohesion and disrupting livelihoods. Economic hardships may drive individuals to join armed groups, contributing to militarization.
Localized conflicts can have regional spillover effects, straining international relations. Weak governance in the face of insecurity may lead to the emergence and activation of non-state actors. Additionally, declining human security can exacerbate tensions, attracting international attention and intervention.
It is critical to prioritize human security in Yemen, particularly in light of the ongoing crisis. Addressing human security in conflict zones necessitates a comprehensive and long-term approach that includes assessment, evaluation, community resilience, international cooperation, and efforts to prevent conflicts from escalating with regional and global consequences.
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