The importance of humanitarianism during COVID-19

With a pandemic ravaging across the world, many governments are currently in the process of closing borders, restructuring health policies, and manufacturing extra equipment for hospital personnel. Competition for effective medical supplies and vaccine formulation has left many countries fighting against each other for survival; as a result, governments have started to focus on self-reliance. For example, India’s government has manufactured medical equipment and resources exclusively within the country, instead of relying on exports. Although these tactics can minimize the transmission of the virus within a region, similar strategies will severely impact the future of humanitarian work. To revive the potential of relief agencies, students need to take action along with governments.

Even before the pandemic, numerous environmental and social issues contributed to an increasing number of deaths across the world. For example, environmental conditions in Angola and Pakistan resulted in drought and limited access to freshwater. Moreover, civil wars and political instability escalated in Syria and Yemen. Knowing that such issues would only become more severe, the United Nations Secretary Council asked for $29 billion in funds to help approximately 168 million people in need of humanitarian relief.

However, after the pandemic hit, the UN realized that they would need an additional $2 billion to complete their projects while battling the virus. Relief agencies have experienced adverse effects from this turn of events, and many humanitarian workers say that the situation they are currently facing is unlike anything they’ve experienced before. Current programs are focused on social issues such as child support, healthcare inaccessibility, and sanitation services. Even if these programs relieve some of the pressure of the pandemic in developing countries, humanitarian agencies are still struggling to achieve the results they desire. Organizations such as Doctors Without Borders have already paused some of their lifesaving programs due to COVID-19. Thus, it is clear that support from governments across the world is insufficient for numerous projects.

The situation in Yemen is the result of insufficient humanitarian support and conflict among regions. CARE, a non-profit organization focused on social justice issues, reported that approximately 24 million people in Yemen are in need of humanitarian assistance after experiencing five years of conflict. Due to poorly managed healthcare and social service systems, the country now has the fourth highest number of displaced people in the world—only worsened by COVID-19. Moreover, environmental issues, such as the flood which took place at the beginning of this year, have shaken Yemen to its core. Aside from the novel coronavirus, infectious diseases including cholera, dengue, malaria, and diphtheria are still widespread among the populace. In fact, over 2.2 million suspected cases of cholera are reported to this day.

Conflict between ethnic groups and bordering countries is further escalating the situation in Yemen. After the Arab Spring, the Houthis began to take over the Saada province and slowly captured the capital, Saana. Even though many Yemenis were unaware of the Houthis actions, Saudi Arabia and eight other Sunni Arab states believed that the military group was backed by Iran, a Shia power. As a result, countless airstrikes from belligerents ravaged Yemen, resulting in a humanitarian catastrophe. These events took place in March 2020 and have caused an increase in food insecurity and infectious disease. Around 85,000 out of 2 million malnourished children have passed away.

As a result of these ongoing geopolitical issues, humanitarian groups in Yemen are facing a “race against time.” Studies estimate that over 75% of humanitarian operations will halt in the next month due to the lack of financial resources. However, humanitarian groups have already been conflicted about starting their mission in Yemen: with the presence of physical violence, regional conflicts, and attacks within the country, governments across the world are hesitant to take action and fund relief agencies.

Insufficient financial resources are slowly beginning to deteriorate the results of humanitarian work. Due to the inadequate amount of nourishment provided, The World Food Programme has already cut food rations in half for Yemeni civilians. A decrease in food provisions will result in more hunger among an already malnourished population. To add insult to injury, workers are also realizing that the goal of providing adequate sanitation services is becoming difficult to accomplish. An ever-increasing demand for sanitary resources among multiple countries has caused donations for humanitarian projects to be considered as a secondary priority.

These actions are all contributing to a vicious cycle of structural barriers. With airlines cancelling flights and countries closing borders, transporting medical equipment is more than an obstacle. However, even obtaining the proper medical equipment is tough with little funding: countries are already facing a shortage of personal protective apparel. If humanitarian efforts are continuously neglected and unconsidered, relief workers will be left with subpar supplies in high-risk regions.

As of right now, humanitarian organizations are tackling projects that protect millions of people and require an abundance of financial resources. Forced physical distancing measures, creating handwashing stations, and providing temperature checks are some examples of essential services that require protective apparel and medical equipment.

In order for humanitarian agencies to flourish in Yemen, government officials must be aware of the struggle for subsistence in relief programs. With the correct donations and messaging, humanitarian programs can create a positive change in the global community. Workers from the UN are still trying to help by distributing food rations in Syria. Although short-term actions may be effective at present, the only way to solve the underlying structural issues in a health pandemic is to create awareness and generate global assistance for humanitarianism.

Global awareness can start with the role of domestic organizations. Even if many organizations focus solely on national events, they can still host campaigns and spread awareness for global issues. By participating in donations and learning more about the crisis, people may be willing to inform others about the crisis in Yemen. This will, in turn, generate empathy and hopefully help humanitarian agencies reach their goals.

From a global perspective, governments can also help Yemen through social and economic assistance. For example, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) plans to work with the government of Yemen to strengthen and develop the public and private sectors for economic and social services. However, other governments must be aware of how their actions may impact Yemenis. Even though the USAID stated that their intentions were not harmful, the UN has mentioned that the US, along with Britain and France, may be held responsible for instigating war crimes and using humanitarian assistance as a cover up. Instead of focusing solely on humanitarian efforts, the US placed an emphasis on military action. Weapon sales, which were not recommended by humanitarian groups, are still approved by US Officials in Yemen. In this case, the war crimes are not being resolved, but worsening. Bringing military force cannot lead to economic opportunities, which is what the Yemeni government needs.

Knowing about global current events is also important for students. Although the situation in Yemen is often mentioned on social media, university students can do more than a share or repost on Instagram.

The first step for taking initiative is through donations: organizations such as UNICEF, Saba Relief, and Islamic Relief Fund are some acceptable choices. Another option for students is to address the situation within their respective clubs and community groups. For those who have joined a humanitarian club, now is the perfect time to raise funds and inform other members about the situation in Yemen. In addition, students who are incredibly passionate about humanitarian work can proceed to find clubs on campus that focus on international development issues. UNICEF, Amnesty International, BORDERLESS, Equity UTM, Free the Children at UTM, and International Health Program (UTHIP) are clubs at UofT that advocate for similar situations.

As university students who are learning and experiencing the impacts of political situations across campuses, we must realize that we are part of a global community. Every year, thousands of international students accept their offers to UofT seeking to receive a well-rounded education. However, there are many other students who want to study and make a big impact in the world, but do not have the ability to do so. This is the case of Yemen, a country shattered by political, social, and economic issues. If we are able to utilize our education and experience in university to give back to the global community, we are able to make a change alongside humanitarian agencies and governments.

The conflict between the Houthis and Hadi’s government has resulted in a global disruption; multiple countries are now fighting for their own interests within a hard-hit region. As the pandemic crisis is worsening, governments must realize that humanitarian agencies play a crucial role in the upkeep of social and economic resources. These groups work on providing civilians with the best quality of care throughout the most difficult time periods. During the COVID-19 outbreak, humanitarian workers are not only working in high-contact environments, but are simultaneously trying to build services for civilians. Therefore, governments must realize that humanitarian work is much more than simply travelling to another country and “solving the problem.” In Yemen’s case, humanitarian workers are willing to put their lives at risk when delivering food, building sanitation systems, and educating others about the pandemic. Nowadays, most governments are constantly updating their country’s performance in combatting COVID-19. However, they must not forget the ones who are sacrificing their lives to make the world a better place. Furthermore, we—as global citizens— can also help humanitarian agencies achieve their goals. Local non-profit organizations can create awareness around the situation by speaking up and launching partner-campaigns for donations. Students can also make a change by realizing the importance of diplomacy and using their knowledge to spread awareness and take initiative to solve the problem. Even if humanitarian organizations are facing difficulty in securing financial resources, the global community can still help and contribute to a greater solution for Yemen during a difficult time. In the end, we can create peace, spread awareness, and successfully eradicate the virus as a collective effort.