Despite the fact that conflict was prevalent in Yemen prior to 2015, Yemen’s war officially began on 22 March 2015. A civil war erupted in early 2014 between the Houthi rebels and the government. The dispute began with demands for decreased fuel prices and the formation of a new administration (Hussona, 2020). However, this quickly devolved into a complex civil war fueled by religious and political agendas. As a result, the civil war morphed into a Saudi-led coalition intervention, rather than an internal civil war, causing the situation to become even more complex. Operation “Decisive Strome” was declared by the Saudi-led coalition in 2015. Following that, an aerial bombardment was successfully launched with the help of the UAE, Somalia, Egypt, the United Kingdom, the United States, and other nations. Since 2015, more than 21,486 air strikes have taken place and continue to do so as a consequence of the continuous conflict, which has yet to be stopped (Hussona, 2020). Due to the negligence and little-to-no media coverage, the war has received over the years, it has been labeled as the “forgotten war” (Kleemann, 2019). According to the Yemen Data Project (2019), 10 million people are on the verge of starvation and more than 20 million people are experiencing food insecurity. Furthermore, shocking statistics put forward by UNICEF demonstrate that 80% of the population need humanitarian aid, making it the world’s biggest humanitarian disaster (UNICEF, 2020). In addition, more than 17,500 civilians were killed or injured as a result of airstrikes, with children and women accounting for 25% of those killed or injured (Roth, 2020). Every month, an average of 90 children are injured or permanently disabled, and 50 are killed, according to Action on Armed Violence (Keenan, 2020). The crisis is far from over. The nation’s healthcare services are on the brink of collapsing due to the impact of COVID-19, a shortage of humanitarian help, and healthcare support (UNICEF YEMEN, 2020). The country is in the midst of a crisis within a crisis, raising the question of how long a state can survive without human security. Therefore, the aim of this article is to get a better understanding of how the conflict in Yemen affects human security, and to evaluate the influence of foreign involvement, by interviewing a sample of participants who are currently in Yemen or have fled the country as a result of the ongoing war. The interviews were conducted and recorded virtually.
According to the United Nations (1994: 24–25), human security is defined as “safety from such chronic threats as hunger, disease and repression” or “protection from sudden hurtful disruptions in the patterns of daily life”. The United Nations Development Department expanded the notion of security by shifting the referent object away from a state-centric approach and adopting an individual-centric approach that emphasized seven important components: Personal security, health security, food security, economic security, community security, environmental security, and political security (United Nations, 2009). Alkire (2003) states that human security is seen as a safety net, since its goal is to offer impetus to all countries, while also creating possibilities and safety for all persons (Alkire, 2003). Furthermore, human security, according to Hamourtziadou (2017), is the ability to feel secure from crime and free from violence. The conventional state-centric approach to security has developed into a more liberal approach that emphasizes individual and human security. Due to this, organizations such as the Iraq Body Count (IBC) have been established to emphasize the value of human life and the moral imperative to memorialize and document individuals who have been murdered or harmed as a result of conflict and war. However, given the current circumstances in Yemen, the concept of human security and its goal of preventing war, eradicating poverty, and respecting human dignity and rights appears to be inapplicable. It is a clear and compelling illustration of a state’s failure to provide human security. Nonetheless, Yemen’s predicament is unusual due to the numerous foreign actions that have demonstrated that the state is not the only element that has failed the Yemeni people.
Food security is regarded as one of the most fundamental human necessities. However, in Yemen, food security is more than just being able to obtain food. Even for those who can afford it, access to food and water is restricted. This is a result of the damage that has been inflicted upon the country’s infrastructure. An estimated 3.5 million people have lost access to piped water as a result of the fighting, and at least 5.1 million people have no access to imports, including humanitarian relief, as a result of government restrictions (Mayne, 2020). Furthermore, the economic situation is dire, with practically no jobs and income, yet food costs continue to rise. From a human security approach, in order to secure the safety and wellbeing of people, it is critical to realize that resolving the crisis in Yemen is just as vital as ensuring regional stability. Yemen will remain an unstable and insecure country without a settlement that negotiates and outlines issues that will help secure access to healthcare, reduce unemployment, distribute needed water and food, revive broken education systems, and protect civilians from political harm. Even if the conflict between the Saudi-led coalition and Houthi rebels ends and a national government is formed, instability will continue without tackling all aspects of human security (Hurley, 2019).
It is critical to analyze and prioritize the seven human security categories in order to build a common platform that addresses the challenges required to achieve human security progressively. In 2020, the Coronavirus spread indiscriminately across the world, particularly in countries where there was continuous conflict and large numbers of people were forcefully displaced (Alawa et al., 2020). According to MedGlobal (2020) and the Centre for Global Health, 97 healthcare workers in Yemen died from COVID-19. Furthermore, the estimate for the number of healthcare providers accessible to the people was ten for every 10,000 people. This means that 18% of the country’s 333 districts lacked physicians and doctors; many had not been paid for over two years, and those that did work practiced voluntarily (MedGlobal, 2020). This exposes the grim reality of Yemen’s economic predicament throughout the country. The first case of COVID-19 was discovered in April 2020. With a mortality rate of 500 fatalities per 1,600 cases, it was considered one of the highest in the world and five times the global average (WHO, 2020). Nonetheless, due to the lack of testing facilities, these statistics are likely to be underestimated and falsely depicted (Looi, 2020). Furthermore, it can be argued that statistics and information given by the Houthi rebels and the government might be inconsistent and unreliable, since they have been accused of concealing the true impact of COVID-19 (Nasser, 2020). In addition, the war made it very difficult to trace and document cases.
The aim of this research is to shed light on the struggles the people of Yemen face due to war. This will be done by identifying the seven components of human security and how they are being threatened by the ongoing conflict. Furthermore, the research will assess the impact of international intervention, as it is one of the most significant contributing factors as to why the war has not ended yet.
Participants were recruited through people personally known to the researcher. In order to protect participants from danger, anonymity and confidentiality are maintained (Charlesworth, 2015). The goal was to interview a representative group of people in Yemen or who have fled the country as a result of the conflict. Semi-structured interviews, rather than structured or unstructured interviews, were used to gather data, as they provide a good combination of flexibility and direction (Kallio et al., 2016). The research focuses on defining the nature of the presence of a phenomenon, as it relates to the current conflict in Yemen and its influence on human security (Edirisingha, 2012). Furthermore, a relativist viewpoint promotes the concept of many local and historical interpretations of reality, implying that it is nearly impossible for realities to be understood and seen identically in all contexts (Guba, 1990). Although Bernstein (1983) criticized that a relativist viewpoint is anti-foundational and promotes conflict and disagreement by emphasizing the concept of a collision of ideas, it is unrealistic and problematic to believe that we are able to view realities through a single lens. This can be illustrated through an example that highlights the harmful nature of this mindset. When it comes to the situation in Yemen, it is apparent that various people have different perspectives on the conflict. Some may see the conflict in Yemen as a necessary and good fight against the Houthi rebels, while others may see it as a kind of tyranny and a way of destabilizing the nation by corrupting its infrastructure in order to acquire control over the area.
Findings are presented thematically. As the Human Development Report (1994: 32) states, “One of the most important aspects of human security is that people should be able to live in a society that honours their basic human rights”. The key theme of this research speaks to the seven aspects of human security: personal security, health security, food security, economic security, community security, environmental security, and political security.
Personal and health security
The purpose of personal security is to safeguard people from state and nonstate violence (Gierszewski, 2017). However, personal security can be deemed as an imperfect label as the majority of the categories of human security can be linked to personal security. An example of this can be demonstrated through the significant overlap between personal and health security. Nonetheless, one aspect of security that has not been explicitly discussed is psychological security. Considering that it is fundamental when understanding lived experiences, psychological security is a crucial aspect of personal security and as a result, “telling one’s story is part of the process of achieving security” (Gasper & Gomez, 2015: 5). Maslow described psychological security as a sense of confidence, safety, and freedom that is distinct from fear and anxiety, as well as a sense of being able to meet one’s needs now and in the future (Maslow, 1942). Given that this research is partially exploring the impact of war and the struggles Yemenis face because of it, participants were asked about how the war impacted them personally:
Sarah: It has impacted me in many ways, firstly from a mental health perspective, the war has left a scar in my heart, no one wishes their country or people to experience war. I have come to the UK to attain my master’s degree and I was unable to go back to Yemen because of the situation in Yemen. As a result, I decided to apply for Asylum, it was the only way to protect myself from going back and facing any harm. The war has separated me from my family, although it is a choice that I have made to apply for asylum and stay here, It is still the only choice I had.
Sarah further speaks about the challenges and obstacles she faced because of the war:
Sarah: When I was in Yemen during the war, the most difficult thing for me was to live in a place feeling that there is a chance that I might die any minute, the fear was not a very pleasant feeling. Seeing my life change overnight (from a peaceful country to a war zone) was hard to deal with. The biggest challenge and obstacle for me was not seeing my family for years since I came here.
Furthermore, Adam, a 27-year-old currently living in Yemen, expresses:
Adam: Instead of planning for a better future, I am stuck thinking about tomorrow and the stressful environment we are exposed to. I have become less productive and careless. I graduated in 2015 with a high GPA, it is 2021 now and I am still struggling to obtain a job I am qualified for. I have tried many times to find a way out of the country but was unfortunate as it is an extremely difficult process.
It is evident that Maslow’s definition of psychological security is absent for both individuals. The anxiety, stress, and fear of the unknown has impacted Sarah and Adam drastically. According to Murthy and Lakshminarayana (2006), One of the most significant consequences of war is its impact on the mental health of civilians. It has further been estimated by the WHO that 10% of persons who endure traumatic experiences in armed conflicts throughout the world may develop significant mental health disorders, and another 10% will develop behavior that will impede their capacity to operate effectively. Depression, anxiety, and psychosomatic issues such as insomnia or back and stomach complications are the most prevalent disorders (WHO, 2003). Although Adam does not state he suffers from depression, it could be argued that the lack of productivity and motivation he speaks of could be a result of depression.
Rose, a 25-year-old student living in Germany also speaks about the difficulties she faced after her displacement:
Rose: Since I left Yemen, I had to start my studies all over again, as only a few of my credits were accepted. Watching my friends and relatives graduate especially those who were much younger than me made me feel sorry for myself. I also had to deal with some racist employees at some governmental offices when I went to approve my transcript and other documents, and this has greatly affected my mental health. I felt like I was not welcomed, and I felt like a complete stranger in the middle of nowhere.
Throughout the world, racial discrimination, racist assaults, xenophobia, and ethnic intolerance are perpetrated against refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, and internally displaced individuals. This is due to politicians and the media blatantly exploiting xenophobic and racial concerns in order to gain political support. Asylum seekers are often depicted as fraudulent and criminals because many are forced to enter Western countries illegally (HRW, 2021). However, this is extremely problematic, as Rose did not fit that narrative, yet she was exposed to the same treatment. This is not to say that those that do enter foreign countries illegally deserve the type of treatment they receive, as what the general public fails to understand is that such people have no choice, but rather to highlight the problematic nature of painting every refugee, asylum seeker and migrant with the same brush that politicians and the media paint them with. Furthermore, the repetitive pattern of the impact such situations have on one’s mental health paves way for discussion on the importance of having reliable assessments of mental health needs in humanitarian settings. It should be deemed as a public health priority as many of those, internally and externally, displaced suffer from mental health issues (Morina et al., 2018). In addition, it has been put forward by Steel et al. (2009), that conflict-displaced refugees experience higher rates of PTSD and depression. Indeed, this is the case as Rose further demonstrates signs of PTSD that were once part of her daily experiences:
Rose: Even though we were able to leave Yemen in April 2015, the tragedy and the impact of the war on us was not over. In the first couple of months, we were completely traumatized, whenever we heard fireworks or any loud noise near us, we immediately thought that they were explosions.
Violence and war have displaced almost 69 million people globally, the greatest figure since World War II (WH0, 2019). Although it has been said that the WHO has worked on addressing mental health since 2016, it focused on countries such as Bangladesh, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Nigeria, South Sudan, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, and the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Yemen, however, is not among the listed countries. This is no surprise as the war has been labeled as the “forgotten war” (Kleemann, 2019). The negligence and inattention the people of Yemen receive continues to add fuel to the situation. Not only are people struggling with mental health, but the country is facing the worst humanitarian and health crisis in the world. Due to the threat of COVID-19, lack of humanitarian aid, and healthcare support, the country’s healthcare systems are on the verge of collapsing (UNICEF YEMEN, 2020). It is almost impossible to address the problem of mental health while the country lacks all other human basic needs such as the right to basic healthcare. COVID-19 has proven to be one of the biggest security threats faced during the 21st century (Karcioglu et al., 2020). Many are struggling to stay within the borders of their conflicted countries, however, in order to contain the spread of the virus most countries have closed their borders. As a result, countries such as Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Palestine are facing high levels of forced displacement. This is extremely problematic, as it endangers the forcibly displaced and those around them. It could be argued that situations like this are used to promote certain agendas by governments in order to turn people against each other. Although forced displacement contributes to the spread of the virus, it is impossible to expect refugees to remain as the living conditions in their countries are unbearable and many struggle to obtain basic needs (UNICEF, 2020). The world has finally come to terms with this. Therefore, negotiations on implementing a global ceasefire have been taking place. Following the call by “UN Secretary-General António Guterres in March for a global ceasefire to advance peace and combat the pandemic, many humanitarian and human rights groups welcomed the move and thought there was a window to begin a process to end the suffering of millions of civilians in Yemen” and many other conflicted countries (Nasser, 2020). However, this brings one to question whether the decision was merely made for the purpose of benefiting the world as a whole, rather than conflicted countries. It could be argued that because of this, once the world overcomes the pandemic, conflict will reside again. This demonstrates a realist approach that is focused on greed and interest rather than the wellbeing of everyone. Nonetheless, a global ceasefire does not appear to be the case, given the level of continuous antagonism and hostility in nations such as Yemen, Syria, and Palestine. Furthermore, individuals are compelled to remain inside their borders, regardless of the living conditions of their nation (WHO, 2021).
Food and economic security
According to the United Nations Committee on World Food Security, food security implies that all people have physical, social, and economic access to adequate, safe, and nutritious food that fulfills their food choices and dietary needs for an active and healthy life (CFS, 2021; IFPRI, 2021). Food security is further linked to economic security and the financial state of individuals. Lack of financial stability contributes significantly toward food insecurity. Yemen’s present level of hunger is unmatched, creating tremendous suffering for millions of people. Despite continuous humanitarian aid, 16.2 million Yemenis lack access to food (WFP, 2021). When asked about the current situation in Yemen a common theme that was repeatedly mentioned was the struggle many Yemenis face, when it comes to securing food. This was linked to the dire economic situation:
Rose: The situation in Yemen is only getting worse. Many civilians have not been receiving their salaries for around six years and therefore they cannot afford buying their most basic needs. The economic situation in Yemen is worse than it has ever been, the unstable currency and the coalition blockade on Yemen has caused a drastic increase in prices of food supplies and other basic products and services.
Adam mirrors this statement as he expresses that the biggest challenge/obstacle for him is:
Unlike Western countries, specifically the United Kingdom, the people of Yemen have no government to fall back on when things deteriorate. It is hard to comprehend that many are living without salaries. The International Committee of the Red Cross defines economic security as the ability of individuals, households, or communities to meet their basic requirements in a sustainable and dignified manner. This might vary depending on an individual’s physical demands, the surroundings, and cultural norms. Food, basic housing, clothes, and cleanliness qualify as essential requirements, as do the accompanying expenditures; necessary assets required to make a livelihood, as well as healthcare and education fees (ICRC, 2015). Unfortunately, based on this definition, economic security is absent.
Dana: Year on year it is getting worse, the effect of the war has ruined so much of Yemeni society. The public health infrastructure has collapsed because there is no longer a health care system in Yemen. This is due to the fact that doctors are not being paid and those that do work, volunteer to do so. Water and electricity infrastructures are collapsing. People are struggling to find food. Only a few people have jobs.
Dana goes on to say:
Dana: The direct impact of war in Yemen is clear on people’s lives, Yemeni people are being injured and killed through airstrikes and street war gunfire. Moreover, one of the most upsetting things to come from this war is that the education in Yemen has been affected during the conflict by preventing the opening of schools as a result of children’s security being threatened while going to schools.
Dana highlights a crucial point as she addresses the issue of education and how it has been impacted by the war. War is destructive in many ways. It devastates human and physical capital, drives up population, and causes health and hunger issues. The long-term impacts of war are evident, and one major component of the long-term impact of conflict is likely to be the loss of human capital. War may have an impact on education in a variety of ways, including school damage, restricted physical access to schools, and a reduction in school inputs. As a result, war may have an effect on both the quantity and quality of education (Merrouche, 2006). This is extremely problematic as it impacts a period of time where a specific generation is being denied the basic right to education. The problem with this is that it has a long-term effect on the future of these individuals. An example of this is the Khmer Rouge regime that lasted from 1975–1979 in Cambodia. This regime was set up to abolish the education system as the government deemed it to be unnecessary. The brutality of this regime allowed harsh treatment toward those that were seen as educated and showed the ability of individualism (Dowling, 2019). Although this is not the case in Yemen, the impact that the lack of education has on individuals and the country as a whole is indisputable. According to Amnesty International (2015), the damage caused by the war has severely affected the learning of approximately 6,500 students who attend schools in the governorates of Hajjah, Hodeidah, and Sana’a. In some situations, the schools were the only ones in the region. While there is no evidence that the schools were used for military purposes, they were bombed. The disruption of education in Yemen was a repetitive theme and obstacle faced by the participants:
Dana: During war the biggest obstacle I had to face is studying for my bachelor’s degree from home with the worst internet connection and the scarcity of electricity. Because of this the continuation of my education was delayed and as a result I struggled with finding a job.
The spiral of interlinked events that can result from the disruption of education can be displayed through the statements provided by Dana. According to a study carried out by Olesen et al. (2013), poor mental health can be a consequence and result of unemployment. Struggling to find a job due to the delay in completing one’s degree can lead to financial difficulties, which then can lead to mental health issues. In addition, struggling to be financially stable is not something limited to students and the younger generation as many of those that have retired are also struggling. When speaking to Aisha, a 52-year-old retiree living in Turkey, about the challenges she faced as a result of the war, she stated:
Aisha: Yemenis who have fled their country as a result of the war were able to do so because of their life savings. Many of us were wishful in our thinking and assumed that the war would end in a couple of months. Unfortunately, this was not the case, the war was prolonged and as a result many of us are slowly coming to our breaking point as our life savings are running out.
When asked about how one would deal with such an obstacle, Aisha replied:
Aisha: There’s only one option to tackle this obstacle and that is to return to Yemen. Back to the war, the airstrikes, the destruction, and the daily torture, because Yemen is the only refuge left to go. Where else are we supposed to go when we are incapable of obtaining basic human needs due to the state we are in?
Yemen is not starving; rather it is being starved. The meaning of this statement can be demonstrated through the strategies of the coalition in the Yemen war: aerial bombardment and food war report put forward by Martha Mundy. In the report, an unidentified Saudi official stated: “Once we control them, then we will feed them” (Mundy, 2018; Perlo-Freeman, 2021). This revolting statement denotes the lack of empathy governments hold when it comes to achieving specific goals and agendas. Acknowledging that this statement was referring to almost 30 million people shows that interests will always be prioritized over human life. Throughout history, mass starvation has been misunderstood as a natural phenomenon or a systemic adverse effect of conflict and political tyranny. However, this is an incorrect conception of starvation crimes as well as an injustice to victims. Mass starvation is a deprivation process that takes place when actors obstruct targeted people’s ability to access the means of survival. While problems related to food production or distribution are frequently significant factors, mass starvation is caused by a larger variety of activities that intentionally weaken a population’s ability to survive. Many of these activities are currently prohibited by various international law rules (Conley & Waal, 2019). Yet such activities are continuously taking place in Yemen. From genocide, to gaining territorial control, to blocking ports and stopping humanitarian aid from entering the country. All of which illustrate how such individually criminalized acts, when committed over a prolonged duration of time, can result in mass starvation. Indeed, this is the case in Yemen, as more than 16 million Yemenis will face starvation this year, with almost 50,000 already dying of starvation as a result of famine (UNSDG, 2021).
Political and community security
Political security is defined as “the prevention of government repression, systematic violation of human rights and threats from militarization” (Hassan, 2015). This definition was designed to establish an agenda that would safeguard people from regimes that continued to engage in political repression, torture, ill-treatment, and disappearance. However, in practice, fulfilling the political security agenda’s goals has been entwined with issues of humanitarian aid and intervention; highlighting the need for a considerably more sophisticated and nuanced discussion of how this should be carried out (Hassan, 2015). One could argue that political security is the most crucial aspect of human security as it impacts all seven aspects of human security. Therefore, in order to be secure, the first form of security that should be focused on is political security. When asked about the factors that contributed to the start and escalation of the war in Yemen, one participant simply responded with:
Clausewitz (2007) defines war as a mutation of political discourse rather than an independent entity. Clausewitz further concluded that war has its own dynamics of passion and aggression, chance, and probability, but its primary consideration is political agenda. Therefore, battlefield operations, no matter how well executed, are useless if they do not contribute to the achievement of the political goal. It ultimately comes down to winning the battle, which is always a political affair (Dimitriu, 2018). The political situation in Yemen is extremely complex and problematic as there are numerous parties involved in the conflict. When asked the same question, Sarah replied:
Sarah: What contributed to the escalation of this war was the international intervention of Saudi Arabia, America and Britain. Every party is benefiting financially from this war even the Government and Houthis, which does not make it easier to end it. ‘Who are we going to sell our weapons to if we don’t have a war in Yemen? Create another war in some other third-world country so we can benefit from?’. The answer to this question is the love of money and power.
When asked about whether there are any solutions or interventions that can be put forward to bring justice to the victims and to prevent more deaths/injuries, Sarah went on to say:
Sarah: Discussions are happening between the Government and Houthis and Saudi Arabia to stop the war, but no ceasefire or agreements are made. To prevent the war from going on, the parties that are in conflict should not only think about themselves and how much money they can still get out of this war, instead they should think of innocent Yemenis that are dying every day from starvation.
What Sarah is referring to is known as neoliberalism. Neoliberalism is a unique ideological framework comprised of three interrelated worlds: political, intellectual, and bureaucratic (Mudge, 2008). The concept is based on free markets and the development of the welfare capitalist state post the cold war era. Although neoliberalism and free-market policies are founded on the need of providing more freedom and prosperity across the world, as well as enhancing economic growth, it is impossible to ignore the harmful impact neoliberalism has on society. A prominent critique of neoliberalism has been the inequitable allocation of resources in free economies, alongside the concept of market-liberalizing policies that sacrifice political and social rights for the sake of economic competitiveness (Blanton & Peksen, 2016). This can be demonstrated clearly through Sarah’s statement, as the war in Yemen proves that profits are prioritized over human life. Adam Smith’s (1776) critique of free markets can further be applied here as he stated that capitalism can lead to prioritizing profits over ethics and human life. When countries such as the United States and United Kingdom are indirectly heavily involved in the war by selling arms to Saudi Arabia, knowing the significant impact that has on the people of Yemen, it is evident that neoliberalism is the root of all evil. The intent to acquire and attain self-gain through selling weapons to Saudi Arabia, regardless of the consequences, displays the cruel nature of politics and power dynamics.
Sarah: The intervention of Saudi Arabia, America and the UK led to a bigger problem. I think that international intervention shouldn’t have happened. These countries claim that they want to help Yemen and maybe they have tried but all they did, in the end, was took advantage of this war, killed civilians and finally, tried to find ways on how to keep it going so they can sell more weapons.
A similar scenario can be seen in the war in Iraq. According to Lily Hamourtziadou (2017), the war in Iraq was justified to the public as a humanitarian war. With the added potential threat of weapons of mass destruction, this war seemed both reasonable and necessary. The purpose of the war was said to be to intervene to rescue civilians from the tyrant and to end massive suffering with minimal cost. Yet this turned into a humanitarian disaster, as those who claimed to be liberators brought more death, hostility, violence and instability to Iraq. The reasons behind the interventions in Yemen and Iraq are slightly different, nevertheless, the outcome is similar. As discussed above, the situation in Yemen is quite complex and there are many layers to the conflict; however, the main reason is to overthrow the Houthi rebels as they are deemed as a significant threat to Saudi Arabia. This is due to their ties with Iran who have had a long history of political and religious conflict with Saudi. Observing the war in Yemen, it is apparent that a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and Iran is taking place on Yemeni soil. The power dynamics displayed in this war reveal the unjust reality of the world we live in. Saudi Arabia, UAE, the USA, the UK, and Iran are all involved in the conflict, yet the only country suffering in Yemen. The 1834 English Poor Law put forward to distinguish between the “deserving” and the “undeserving poor” is a great example of how society labels the poor and powerless as unworthy (Golightley & Holloway, 2016). It is difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel when evaluating the situation in Yemen. Though, when asked about the things that could have prevented the war from taking place, one participant responded:
The answer comes across as shocking, as the purpose of the Arab Spring was to overthrow presidential monarchies and to encourage Western discourse of democratization and human rights (Hamourtziadou, 2021; Hinnebusch, 2015). In theory, the Arab Spring was supposed to be the start of a liberal and free movement that will lead to the flourishment of many countries in the Middle East. In practice, it devastated and divided the countries that participated.
Rose: The division of the Yemeni people and the various parties have caused Yemen to go through many internal conflicts. This was mainly due to the fact that southern citizens were not satisfied with the unification due to the injustice that they suffered from by the former president Saleh and his government.
The conflict has caused social division and marginalization, preventing communities from living in peace. The importance of community security is crucial, as it allows individuals to feel heard and safe. Better service delivery, less social exclusion, enhanced social group interactions, and increased democratic governance are all possible outcomes of the process of community security. The key is that the issues addressed, the procedure used, and the outcomes obtained all contribute to a better secure environment (Bennett, 2014). This is far from reality in Yemen, as the division has spread even between individuals living in the same household. However, one participant’s story shows that behind every tragedy there is hope. When asked about how the war had developed or changed since it started, Laith, a 23-year-old student currently living in Birmingham, responded:
Laith: The war in Yemen has unfortunately gone downhill. The situation is extremely complex and heart-breaking. Although this war has forced me to flee my country and leave my loved ones behind, it has also taught me to be more ambitious and career driven. The following months after fleeing Yemen, I felt lost and helpless. Fast forward a few years, I am soon to be a graduate and I have also started my own food business that I am extremely proud of. I love my country and would do anything to stop the war from taking place, as innocent people do not deserve to suffer this way. But had I stayed in Yemen, I do not think I would have been able to achieve and accomplish the things I have here. The lack of opportunities and support available in Yemen would have prevented me from doing so.
Laith’s statement demonstrates how destructive insecurity is and the impact it has on an individual’s potential. His story can be compared to that of Adam’s where one is struggling to obtain basic needs and the other is striving to better his business and career. This all comes down to the environment one is surrounded by. What many fail to comprehend is that in order to flourish and achieve, one must be in a safe environment, free from violence and famine. The situation in Yemen has become extremely problematic and with insecurity comes chaos and mayhem. People are desperate to survive and as a result are exploited by extremist groups. According to the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor (2021), 10,300 children in Yemen have forcibly been recruited by the Houthi rebels. Many of those are innocent children who have been brainwashed by such groups. Many will label these kids as extremists or enemies; however, they are victims of extreme violence as they have been exposed to ferocious recruitment methods such as enslavement, sexual exploitation, continuous terror, brainwashing, and psychological pressure. Unfortunately, they are frequently hurt or killed (UNODC, 2017). Therefore, without an end to the war in Yemen, the suffering of children, Adam, and many others will continue.
Environmental security
Environmental security is “relative public safety from environmental dangers caused by natural or human processes due to ignorance, accident, mismanagement or design and originating within or across national borders” (Zurlini & Muller, 2008). When asked about the current situation in Yemen, Rose responded:
Rose: Yemen has suffered from several natural disasters in the last few years, which has led many people to flee their destroyed homes.
Unfortunately, Yemen has experienced numerous natural disasters since the start of the war. Two major cyclones took place within a week in 2015, two more in 2018, and a series of catastrophic widespread downpours and floods in 2020 are just a few recent instances, all of which have irreparably damaged various elements of Yemen’s rich heritage and people (Lackner & Al-Eryani, 2020). Alongside this, Yemen’s infrastructure has been destroyed by the continuous bombings and airstrikes carried out by Saudi Arabia costing the country $14 billion in damage and economic losses (Bayoumy, 2016). Concerns do not stop here as the hazard presented by a neglected oil tanker drifting off Yemen’s west coast is the most pressing and well-publicized environmental concern in the country. The supertanker Safer is positioned approximately 8 kilometers west of Ras Isa on the Red Sea, and its huge cargo of crude oil might seep into the water. Since the Houthi rebels took control of it in 2015, it has gotten no maintenance. Should the tanker sink or explode, a historic environmental disaster will be caused. A spill of the supertanker’s 1.148 million barrels of oil would be four times the magnitude of the Exxon Valdez catastrophe that took place in Alaska in 1989, destroying marine life and human livelihoods on a massive scale (Lackner & Al-Eryani, 2020). Nonetheless, according to Adam, one positive aspect of environmental security is:
Adam: The development of solar power. Now almost every house uses solar panels and solar heaters. This is the only beneficial thing as it helps the environment, and it is cost effective.
Yemen’s solar business has emerged as a unique success story among the darkness and despite the unclear borders of territorial and political authority. Since the start of the war, public electricity has been completely cut off throughout the country. People were forced to generate electricity by running a petrol-powered engine. Although this was guaranteed to generate electricity, it was not cost-effective and the petrol crisis in Yemen did not help. As a result, people desperately searched for other effective ways to obtain electricity. With solar panels reaching 50% of Yemen’s households in rural areas and 75% in urban areas, it is safe to say that desperate times call for innovation. Through innovation and entrepreneurship, Yemen may serve as a beacon of hope for residents seeking to reclaim control of their lives (Badiei, 2018).
Conclusion
The aim of this paper was to shed light on the struggles the people of Yemen face due to the war. This was done by identifying the seven components of human security and examining how they are threatened by the ongoing conflict. The research confirms that all seven aspects of human security are compromised in Yemen. Furthermore, the research evaluated the impact of international intervention, a repetitive theme during interviews. It is further a significant contributing factor as to why the war is still ongoing. The interviews revealed the importance of security and its impact on issues that go beyond the seven components of human security, such as mental health. Mental health has been a significant recurring theme during this research. Although mental health is a well-known topic around the world, tackling mental health is something alien to Yemenis, as they lack basic medical care and assistance. With over 16 million Yemenis on the brink of starvation, the absence of food security has also been disclosed. This was linked to the economic situation in Yemen as being financially unstable contributes significantly toward food insecurity. However, the instability of all these components were a result of political and community insecurity. The complex nature of this war could be seen through the division and the numerous political parties involved in Yemen. Whether that be the internal conflict between the south and the north (the Houthis) of Yemen, or the external conflict that involves Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE, the UK, and the US. Although the conflict has demonstrated the division between Yemenis, one thing they are not divided on is that politics is the root of all evil.
The situation in Yemen is far from being solved, but behind every tragedy there’s a glimmer of hope. Interviewing participants has exposed the cruel reality of Yemenis. Yet, it has also shown their resilience and strong will. With everything they have been exposed to, they still fight to survive.