We are in the midst of a huge pandemic with people starting to die around us and for some of us we will lose our loved ones. We are also living in the best of nations in the world – The United Kingdom. The best in technology, healthcare and governance. The government has guaranteed support, has built new hospitals overnight to cater for the expected rise in numbers, has laid on flights to bring back our citizens stranded abroad, Food wholesalers have been ordered to keep prices the same.
The worst place in the world right now is Yemen. The UN has declared Yemen to be the largest humanitarian crisis in the world. With the country suffering from mass starvation, more than 80 percent of the population lacks food, drinking water and access to health care services. Yemen is very likely to be hit by the COVID-19 pandemic which will wreak havoc on the people of Yemen as they are already weakened by starvation and dehydration.
To add to the issue, women, unmarried women, divorced and adolescent girls are among the most vulnerable. In a society like Yemen, men shield and protect the women from danger, abduction and sexual attacks. This crisis has created an easy environment for women to be exploited and violated of their dignity. Women are now forced to take the lead as the male guardian has either been killed or is fighting. The responsibility is now upon the women for collecting supplies for their families which make them an easy target. Women have to walk up to three hours to collect their rations of basic food for survival and then have to make the same journey back, carrying both food and their children in their arms in the unbearable heat of over 45 degrees over barren land. Access to basic food is not always available and as a result women are the most malnourished and children are dying from starvation.
Updates from the ground
1. The war continues and is getting worse
2. Famine and unemployment are at its peak, no source of income or food
3. Deadly diseases are widespread, many have lost their lives / loved ones
4. Food and medication are lacking across the country
5. Covid-19 is spreading rapidly, officials and media are silent because they do not want to intimidate the public
6. The rate of disability is increasing, women and children have lost limbs due to the war and land mines
7. More children are born with disabilities due to malnutrition and chemicals
What we are doing:
To combat the sex for aid, exploitation of these vulnerable women and the pressure women face for survival, Forgotten Women focuses on delivering ‘Safe Aid’ which in basic terms means aid for women by women, we only allow women on the front line to deliver aid in a safe manner.
”Sex for aid and sexual exploitation should not and will not be tolerated, we are here to serve those in need and in the same breath protect those who we serve.” Forgotten Women Team
Please give generously, we have a dedicated team of women on the ground in Yemen directly distributing emergency aid daily to those families who are suffering from starvation, save lives today.
