President Donald Trump pressed Saudi Arabia to lift the blockade on war-torn Yemen in a rare rebuke of the U.S.’s Middle East ally. The blockade of food, medicine and essential supplies has increased the risk of famine and widespread diseases. The majority of Yemenis are currently struggling to obtain food to survive.
In a statement he made on Wednesday, Trump said he has asked U.S. officials “to call the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to request that they completely allow food, fuel, water, and medicine to reach the Yemeni people who desperately need it.” Trump underlined the urgency of the situation and added that “this must be done for humanitarian reasons.”
Despite the public praise, Trump has directed toward Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for his efforts to fight terrorism, the statement indicated a hidden criticism of the prince. The president’s statement came only hours after he announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and move the U.S. embassy there, a move which the Middle East opposed.
A Saudi-led U.S.-backed coalition of Sunni Arab forces has been fighting Shi’ite Houthis in Yemen for years. The fighting has led to the worst humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations. Around 7 million Yemenis are on the brink of starvation due to the Saudi coalition cutting off access to the country.
“We’re on the brink of famine. If we don’t receive the monies that we need in the next few months, I would say 125,000 little girls and boys will die,” a World Food Programme official said. Yemen was plunged deeper into crisis this week after Ali Abdullah Saleh was killed by Houthi forces.
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