Maybe this joke won’t be told for much longer, because Yemen has been changing fast ever since the war began. Yemenis are often portrayed as a particularly resilient and resourceful people, but the country is in a desperate state. Even before the air raids started last year, Yemen was the poorest of the Arab states. Now international organizations say that 80% of its population is in need of humanitarian aid. The air raids have targeted schools and hospitals, and now about 1000 schools can no longer be used.
The old city of Yemen’s capital, Sana’a, is a UNECSCO cultural heritage site. Some of the houses in the old quarter date back to the 11th century. They are extraordinarily beautiful. The air raids on the 11 May last year caused so much damage among the historic buildings that the UNESCO’s Director-General, Ms. Irina Bokova, felt the need to issue an official plea to protect Yemen’s unique cultural heritage.
Please support this unique country and its people and donate to any of the following charities for Yemen.
Save the Children
Medecins Sans Frontieres
Oxfam
British Red Cross
German Red Cross
Unicef