RNA - True, European governments and the European Union publicly wring their hands about the "human tragedy" and need for "life-saving assistance" in the war-torn country. But they never walk the talk. While the Saudi-led coalition aggression against the region’s poorest country has continued over the past three years and got worse in recent days in Hodeida, the EU and European countries have instead approved the sale of more arms to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
No doubt the provision of Western arms has extended this unnecessary conflict and led to humanitarian disasters. The value of the licences which the EU countries issued in 2015 and 2016 - the only years for which data is available - amount to more than 55 times what the EU and European countries have donated to the UN’s chronically underfunded Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan! This is while independent researchers estimate that more than 56,000 Yemenis have been killed with the UN warning “a clear and present danger” of an imminent famine engulfing 14 million Yemenis – or half of the population. Besides, no European aid is entering Hodeida.
In addition, many EU governments have promised during the course of the war to stop or restrict sales of the weapons that are being used to murder Yemenis, and the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi last month brought a new wave of public pressure to halt deals with the Saudi regime. But only Germany and Norway have suspended their sales – until Khashoggi’s murder is explained - while the UK, France and Spain have all signaled that they will continue business as usual.
Little wonder heavy fighting between invading Saudi-backed forces and the Ansarullah continues to escalate in Hodeida, with medics saying over 150 people killed. This is an increase of weeks of deadly fighting in and around the vital port city. This is also the irrefutable result of Western complicity and arms sales to the Saudi regime and the mere extras.
Lest we forget, Hodeida is the main aid port into Yemen. This means it is effectively the source of food for millions of Yemenis in the North, and aid groups warn the war on the port could lead to famine. The death toll is rising as the stalled fighting continues, specially due to the Saudi bombing of residential areas. The fall of the city’s main hospital over the weekend led to medical staff fleeing the area, and thousands of civilians remain trapped in the neighborhoods nearby, maimed, wounded, and unaccounted for.
The Ansarullah resistance fighters have forced back the Saudi-led invaders on many fronts, but the US-backed, Saudi-led airstrikes have been renewed, all because Saudi warplanes continue to get re-armed and refueled by the US and its NATO allies.
The international civil society wants an end to this madness – for the sake of regional and global security. There is no need for further human loss of life because this unnecessary invasion will not re-establish status quo in the Arabian Peninsula. This is a failed military campaign and the best thing the West could do is to end their military and diplomatic support, which includes halting all weapons sales and refueling Saudi warplanes.
According to Fars News Agancy, there is no need for millions of Yemeni wives, parents, siblings, and children suffer as their husbands, fathers, sons, and brothers are killed - all blatant war crimes. Western participation in the war violates International Law because it is not authorized by the United Nations. Further, US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, say the end to refueling wouldn't stop American training and military assistance. This has to stop too, as there is no other way for Washington to prove it has desire to end the conflict.
Saudi Arabia and the UAE claim the war as a means to limit Iranian influence in the Arabian Peninsula, but the claim is evidently unfounded. Iran cannot arm Ansarullah because Hodeida and the rest of the country are under a very tight siege imposed by the armies of over a dozen Saudi-led coalition member states plus the US and UK navies. Not only weapons, but also a needly cannot get through.
The time to push for a cease-fire is now. Saudi and Emirati forces, as well as their allies on the ground, should be forced to stop their renewed push for the Red Sea port city of Hodeida, through which most food and aid enters Yemen. Any disruption to the port could sever that crucial lifeline, triggering an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
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