{"id":4671,"date":"2021-01-29T18:34:34","date_gmt":"2021-01-29T22:34:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yemeniamerican.com\/en\/?p=4671"},"modified":"2021-01-29T18:34:34","modified_gmt":"2021-01-29T22:34:34","slug":"can-biden-solve-yemens-humanitarian-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yemeniamerican.com\/en\/can-biden-solve-yemens-humanitarian-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Biden Solve Yemen\u2019s Humanitarian Crisis?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Simon Albaugh \u2013 Yemeni American News<\/strong><\/p>\n

Within the complex network of actors in Yemen\u2019s conflict, few show signs of reclaiming the country\u2019s decimated political system or economy. In the hundreds of thousands, the civilian population pays the heavy price of the conflict through starvation, vulnerability to the warring factions, and massive poverty. It\u2019s a conflict that didn\u2019t necessarily start with the United States, but some are optimistic that it could end with action from the Biden Administration.<\/p>\n

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After four years of disastrous neglect from the Trump Presidency, Biden has renewed a sense of urgency for America\u2019s role within the International Community. Although his agenda has priorities like the COVID-19 pandemic and racial justice in America as leading his policy, there\u2019s still attainable progress that Biden could make in safeguarding the future of stability in Yemen.<\/p>\n

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But as the process moves forward, the risks for the country\u2019s civilian population and stability throughout the region are making this an exceedingly difficult endeavor to undertake, with no clear benefit for the United States\u2019 foreign policy goals.<\/p>\n

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However, Biden has made the effort during his campaign to reach out to stakeholders, such as Yemeni Americans, to show his promise in trying to end the conflict in Yemen. As explained by Foreign Policy expert Brian McKeon, who served as deputy National Security Advisor for Vice President Biden, the incoming administration has a clear plan for their efforts in the country.<\/p>\n

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\u201cHe has made clear first that he will end support for the Saudi and Emirati war in Yemen,\u201d McKeon said. \u201cObviously, this started during the Obama Biden administration when the United States provided certain degrees of support to the Saudis and the Emiratis. But when Biden becomes president, we\u2019re going to push for a negotiated solution, working closely with the UN Special Representative in using our own diplomatic engagement and power to push for a resolution of the conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Yemen Expert Agrees with Biden\u2019s Promise<\/strong><\/p>\n

As a former Armed Groups and Regional Expert for the United Nations Security Council, Fernando Carvajal has maintained an interest in resolving the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen. Having worked closely with the Security Council\u2019s Panel of Experts on Yemen, his prescribed peace plan for the country takes a similar focus to McKeon\u2019s on diplomatic efforts, rather than intervention.<\/p>\n

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The challenge from Carvajal\u2019s point of view is that the diplomatic efforts will need to engage the complicated network of powers that are driving the conflict \u2013 Saudis, Emiratis, Houthis, Southern Secessionists. Although this is currently being attempted by United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths, Carvajal thinks that a Biden delegate would do the job better.<\/p>\n

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\u201cBiden has to come in and say, a solution to this conflict is a benefit to everyone,\u201d Carvajal said. \u201cEven without the intrinsic humanitarian point of view that we need to end this conflict for the better of the 30 million Yemenis, you can take the approach that solving this conflict is in the benefit of everyone, because then everybody can get into the business of real business.\u201d<\/p>\n

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In these diplomatic efforts, Carvajal calls for diplomatic efforts among every power that\u2019s now become involved in the Yemen Conflict. This calls for working with the Houthis as well as cutting military aid from the Saudi Coalition. With a democratic majority between the white house and the legislature, Carvajal is hoping to see this effort begin before the next election. \u201cThat\u2019s what I need to see from Biden in order to remain optimistic,\u201d Carvajal said.<\/p>\n

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The Biden Administration is already moving ahead<\/strong><\/p>\n

With congress showing its support for cutting military aid for the Saudi-led assault on Yemen\u2019s northern border, the Biden Administration is beginning action on the Yemen Conflict. As Representative Debbie Dingell, whose constituency covers a sizable Yemeni American population in Southeast Michigan, the mechanisms are moving toward these diplomatic efforts.<\/p>\n

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\u201cLast week, Secretary of State-designate Antony Blinken made clear that the Biden Administration will end support for the Saudi Arabia-led military campaign in Yemen and instead choose a path towards peace,\u201d said Dingell \u201cFor years, I have led Congressional efforts to end U.S. military actions in this region and I will hold the Biden Administration accountable for their promises to do just that.”<\/p>\n

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As Yemen Historian Kipp Cozad explains, ending sales to the Saudi Coalition has now become the easy part. Moving forward, the Biden Administration will need to address the need for a trusting ceasefire in order to move aid into the country \u2013 something that\u2019s among the immediate needs for the civilian population of Yemen.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAfter you’ve got to that point, then you have to return to the demands of the people,\u201d Cozad said. \u201cThe reason they took to the streets in the first place in Yemen was to get rid of corruption\u2026 So, it’s a steep hill to climb. And it’s exceedingly complex. Whenever you’re talking about Yemen, you’re talking about all these moving parts.\u201d<\/p>\n

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