News / Press Releases

Jeff Meer, U.S. Executive Director of Humanity & Inclusion, offered the following comment on the Biden Administration's decision to review weapons sales to parties to the conflict in Yemen

"This decision is a first step to stop fueling the conflict in Yemen. Humanity & Inclusion encourages the Biden Administration to permanently bar any arms sales that would cause harm to civilian populations.

“The conflict has resulted in thousands of civilian deaths and widespread hunger. Continuous fighting and massive use of explosive weapons in urban areas have had disastrous humanitarian consequences for civilians. March 26th marks the 6th anniversary of the conflict, and Yemen is today the largest humanitarian crisis in the world. Arms sales have been a major driving factor of this catastrophe.

“On this conflict, States must make a choice: selling weapons to belligerents or protecting civilians. Humanity & Inclusion calls on States to make the right decision by definitively suspending their arms sales to parties to the conflict. France, the United Kingdom and any State selling arms to parties to the conflict must acknowledge their responsibility and put an end to their exports. Every day, our teams in Yemen care for people whose lives, bodies and minds have been torn apart by violence.”

Approximately 20,000 civilians have been killed in Yemen. 20.1 million people—nearly two-thirds of the population—required food assistance in 2020, making Yemen the world’s worst food security crisis (Human Rights Watch, 2021). 80% of Yemen’s population need humanitarian aid, including over 12 million children (UNICEF).

Humanity & Inclusion's rehabilitation work in Yemen

• Teams operate in nine health facilities across Sanaa, Aden and Mokha and have supported 30,000 beneficiaries since its recent operations started in late 2015.
• 34,000 mobility aids have been distributed since 2015. This includes equipment such as crutches, wheelchairs, walking sticks/canes, walkers…
• Almost 500 people have been provided with braces or artificial limbs
• Humanity & Inclusion has helped train almost 900 medical professionals