Summary: an ineffectual UN effort, a derelict oil tanker, an ongoing war, Covid-19, acute food insecurity – the stark tragedy of Yemen in the summer of 2020.
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Does Prof. Lackner see a way or ways forward?
Professor Waterbury’s comment is most apt and to the point. Alongside many others, I do not see any solution to the Yemeni crisis. However certain activities could, at least, alleviate the suffering of the population. First, and independently of any political intervention, the medical and humanitarian disastrous situation can be addressed: the serious underfunding of the UN’s appeal is a major set back. All financial contributions to serious humanitarian and medical institutions help and that is a way forward to help Yemenis survive.
Politically, while the internal Yemeni struggle has no clear outcome and is likely to take significant time to reach a conclusion, the international community can take action. UNSC 2216 has been an obstacle since it was voted in 2015 and today is more obsolete than ever as the Huthis’ power and control increased and the Hadi internationally recognised government has become irrelevant on the ground. Its replacement with a realistic resolution, recognising reality on the ground, would facilitate the initiation of serious negotiations. The UN did not endear itself to the Huthis or to most Yemenis in 2018 when it appointed a US citizen as a coordinator and the British one as a Special Envoy. A first step to improve UN credibility would be to replace both by citizens from states perceived by Yemenis on all sides to be neutral and committed to improving their future. Finally, however unlikely to succeed, efforts should be made to encourage Saudi Arabia and the UAE to prioritise the lives and livelihoods of Yemenis over their own narrow geostrategic interests.
Should all these be done, the likelihood is that fighting in Yemen would change in nature and, unfortunately, probably end up as a struggle between different groups of authoritarian repressive Islamists, the Huthis, Islah and the jihadis, not a prospect viewed favourably by millions of Yemenis. Is the current disastrous situation a better alternative? Maybe this comment could be the beginning of a productive dialogue between AD members.