INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS' EFFORTS TO ADDRESS THE
HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN YEMEN
Introduction
In 1990, the Republic of Yemen was formed by the merger of two countries, North Yemen
and South Yemen. Unfortunately, after the merger The conflicts and crises that have plagued
Yemen to date have emerged. When viewed chronologically, the Yemeni crisis is divided into
two parts, namely the crisis before the war. Arab Spring phenomenon, and the crisis that
followed the Arab Spring (United Nation, 2004).
Since 1992 before the Arab Spring crisis, Yemen has experienced an economic crisis
(Balance of Power in Saudi Arabia's Intervention in the Yemen Conflict that Occurred After,
2020). This economic crisis then led to a conflict between the President of North Yemen and
the President of South Yemen. Then this conflict was won by the President of North Yemen,
thus forcing the President of South Yemen to leave the capital Sanaa and move to Aden which
is in the southern region of Yemen. Then in 1994 in the North Yemen region there was a
group of Yemeni separatists called Al- Houthi who tried to separate themselves and become
an independent state (IDN Times, 2021).
The opposition carried out by this separatist group is based on disagreement because it
considers the Yemeni government to be more favorable to western countries, and more flow
of resources to the northern part, precisely in the capital city of Sana'a. In addition, the leaders
of the separatist groups also think that President Ali Abdul Saleh (President of North Yemen)
is corrupt on a massive scale by controlling the core military and economic sectors through
his powerful relatives. This conflict led to a revolutionary movement in Yemen that was
allegedly supported by Iran. However, these forces were successfully repulsed by government
forces.
In addition, in the late 1990s the Yemeni government was also suspected of discriminating
against the Zaydi community, which has a Shiite sect in the northern part of Yemen. This led
to the formation of a group called the Houthis. It seems that this triggered a small-scale
rebellion by the Houthis coupled with the death of the Houthi leader due to a government
crackdown in 2004. Despite a lot of resistance, the group has continued to carry out rebellion
until 2009 and continues to this day.
In 2011 the Houthi group again held demonstrations in order to voice anti-government.
This time, the Houthis intended to take over the government from the Yemeni government,
which would then run the country in accordance with its ideology, namely Shia. Through this
action, the Houthis succeeded in toppling Ali Abdullah Saleh from his position as President of
Yemen who had served for more than three decades after an agreement between the Yemeni
government and opposition groups in early 2012 (ICRC, Annual Report. 2012).
The vacant position was immediately filled by Saleh's vice president, Abd Rabbuh Mansur
Hadi. In carrying out his new duties, President Hadi certainly has the first task which aims to
reunite the political elements of the country that have been divided in order to prevent new
problems that will arise. However, it turned out that the Houthi group did not remain silent, in
2014 the Houthi group again showed its action no longer with demonstrations but with a
rebellion against the Yemeni Government, through this rebellion of course triggered a conflict
that affected the legitimacy of the government which made the credibility of the incumbent
government even worse.
The Houthis then forced President Hadi to enter into negotiations to form a unity
government with other political factions. The rebels exerted pressure by besieging the
presidential palace and attacking the private residences of other militants. Finally, in 2015
Hadi resigned and secretly traveled to Riyadh. Seeing the vacant position, the Houthis then
declared that the government was now under their hands, besides that the Houthis also
dissolved Parliament and created the Revolutionary Committee.
Seeing Yemen's increasingly chaotic situation, Hadi, who fled to Riyad, quietly asked Saudi
Arabia for help and declared that he was still the President of Yemen. Hadi asked Saudi
Arabia for help in order to restore his power to the Yemeni government. The conflict escalated
when Saudi Arabia became involved in handling the situation (Monica Petrova, 2019).
Responding to Hadi's request, Saudi Arabia then led the Arab coalition to assist President
Hadi's government from the Houthi ceasefire by separating the Houthis and Saleh through
blocking territory. However, the predictions that were previously envisioned turned out to be
wrong, until now Yemen under Hadi's leadership is still experiencing a military stalemate,
while the Houthis are getting stronger by having ballistic missiles and drones used to bombard
Saudi-owned facilities (Andrew, 2019).
The deadly conflict experienced by Yemen is recognized by the UN as the worst
humanitarian disaster in the world. By the end of 2020, 223,000 people had been killed, with
131,000 people dying indirectly due to food shortages and limited access to health. Not only
that, Yemen was also hit by a cholera outbreak in 2017, making Yemen also in a state of
malnutrition in children which causes a decrease in health resilience. The cholera outbreak
reflects the humanitarian crisis caused by Yemen's escalating civil war.
Seeing the condition of Yemen as described above, of course, there is a need for assistance
from various parties that fight for various human rights that should be obtained by the Yemeni
people. If these rights are not fulfilled and not addressed immediately, it will lead to the
violation of rights and human rights violations that will lead to human security issues.
International organizations in this case have the most important authority in fulfilling
humanitarian rights. UN states that all people, including children, have the right to special
care and assistance that fully and harmoniously develops their personality (Oktadewi &
Khairiyah, 2018).
Based on this background, this article will attempt to describe the efforts of international
organizations in dealing with the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
Methods
This research uses a literature study approach method because in the process the data
collected comes from books, journals, the internet, or other written literature as a basis for
writing. The literature study method is a method of collecting data by searching for
information through books, newspapers, and other literature that aims to develop theory
(Arikunto, 2006). This literature study method is a theoretical study, reference and study of
other literature related to culture, values, and norms that develop in research (Sugiyono,
2012).
In this research we focus on finding articles, journals and official websites of international
organizations that discuss the conditions of the Yemeni population, as well as the efforts made
by various relevant international organizations in dealing with the humanitarian crisis that
occurred in Yemen.
In searching for articles and journals, we utilized the Google Scholar search engine with
the keyword Yemeni humanitarian crisis, which resulted in 2,090 articles and journals related
to this issue. In addition, to find sources related to the efforts given by international
organizations, we used the keywords international organizations and Yemeni humanitarian
crisis. The results we obtained from these keywords were 1,480 articles and journals. Then
from the sources we obtained we sorted again by conducting data analysis/scanning of several
sources obtained.
Through this selection process, we finally managed to collect 22 articles and journals that
became the secondary data used for this study. The articles and journals were written and
published between 1999 and 2022. On the other hand, we also matched the efforts given in
the nearest period of time that we obtained from various official websites of the international
organizations concerned.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
Discussion
International Organization
An international organization is a form of interaction relationship between various parties,
both state and non-state, which ultimately forms an institution so that it has principles, goals,
administrators, and members (Jannah, 2014). The main function of international organizations
is to provide a means of cooperation for several countries, where this cooperation is expected
to benefit all those involved in it (Bennet, 2021). In addition, international organizations can
participate in various efforts to prevent and handle a conflict, maintain peace and security,
provide humanitarian assistance, make invitations to follow the environmental sustainability
movement and so on (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021). This can be done because in an
international system, these organizations are independent institutions that have the authority
to make or issue their own decisions without interference from any party (Perwita & Yani,
2014). International organizations in this context can also be understood as human service
organizations that strive to carry a social mission by providing services to the community on
the basis of human values, solidarity, generosity, and togetherness (Lendriyono in Ramadhani
& Irfan, 2021).
In its implementation there is a classification of international organizations, based on its
type there are two forms of international organizations, namely:
Intergovernment Organization Is a form of government organization because it is formed
from two or more countries that are both sovereign. The nature of membership of this type
of organization is voluntary, so that in its implementation it does not interfere with the
sovereignty of each country involved.
Non-Government Organization Is form of organization non-government organization where
this type of organization is formed and operates internationally with no connection to the
governments of the countries involved.
Food Crisis
Hunger has long been a global issue and has become the focus of global attention. This
problem is caused by many things, such as the unsuccessful state in regulating food diversity,
unfavorable climatic conditions and geographical location, the country's policy regulations
related to food security are not strong, and the existence of conflicts that have an impact on
hampering the availability of food in a country (Norjali, 2017). The condition of Yemen,
which is involved in civil war and the impact of the Arab Spring, has caused Yemen to
experience a food crisis. This condition is exacerbated by the fact that the majority of
Yemenis are poor families (Luerdi & Mardiyanti, 2021).
There are various factors behind poverty in Yemen, according to The Borgen Project in
(Norjali, 2017) the following are some of these factors:
Water Crisis. Almost all areas in Yemen, even the capital city of Sana'a, are not spared
from the clean water crisis. Only once in four days, two million residents of Sana'a can
access clean water. Even in the city of Taiz, The population can only access clean water
once every twenty days. This condition will certainly have a negative impact on food
availability in Yemen. This is because almost 90% of Yemen's agricultural land requires
clean water. If clean water for living purposes is difficult, then agriculture cannot be
fulfilled, leading to the death of agriculture and unable to obtain food.
Famine. In mid-2012 several international organizations announced that around 44% of
Yemen's population was food insecure, and five million people needed medical attention.
This factor is closely related to the water crisis that has led to the death of agricultural
land. As a result, food is scarce, prices are skyrocketing, and the unstable political
situation is making it even more difficult for the Yemeni population.
Unstable Political Conditions. The impact of the Arab Spring has greatly affected the
political conditions in Yemen. This has led to a deterioration in the Yemeni economy,
resulting in an increasing unemployment cases. In addition, there are many internal cases
in Yemen such as corrupt government and conflicts between two groups that make
Yemen's political conditions even worse.
On top of that, Yemen is currently suffering from the conflict between Russia and
Ukraine. According to the BBC, the price of a bag of flour, which used to be US$21-US$25,
is now US$50. This is because to obtain wheat as a raw material for flour, 90% is imported
due to Yemen's poor agricultural conditions. 40% of the imported wheat comes from Ukraine
and Russia. The conflict between the two countries has not only affected the price of wheat,
but also the price of wheat. As the number of customers increased, the distribution process was
hampered.
Reporting from data released by the World Food Program shows that currently the
condition of food security in Yemen is getting worse. There are currently 17.4 million
Yemenis who are food insecure. This figure is predicted to continue to increase, so the World
Food Program predicts that there will be an increase in the population experiencing food
insecurity to 19 million people by the end of December 2022. In addition, 20.7 million people
are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 3.5 million pregnant and lactating women and
children are malnourished.
This condition makes Yemen need help from outside parties. And it is only natural that
every country and international organization together help deal with the food crisis in Yemen.
In this case, the world organization, the Food Agriculture Organization, has an important role
in handling the food crisis in Yemen. The Food Agriculture Organization, also known as
FAO, is an international organization under the auspices of the United Nations. The focus of
FAO is to help overcome hunger-related problems in a global scope and increase the
development of rural development.
On 22 May 1990 Yemen became a member of the Food Agriculture Organization, and
since then there has been cooperation between the two. FAO focuses on food security,
livestock, policy, capacity building, emergency response, crop production and protection,
climate change and fisheries.
One of the successful programs carried out by the Food Agriculture Organization (FAO)
in Yemen between 1990 and 2010 was assistance for vulnerable populations due to rising
food prices. The main activities carried out in this program are provided superior seeds to
farmers spread across ten provinces. The seeds included sorghum, corn and millet. The
selection of these seeds was because these three commodities are the basic food needs for the
Yemeni population. The total number of seeds provided was 553.64 tons to 7,644 farmers
(FAO, 2011).
The program resulted in an increase in the area under wheat cultivation in the target
provinces. As there was an increase in the area under cultivation, there was also an increase in
the productivity of wheat, which was around 0.5 tons in one hectare of cultivated land. There
was an integrative package system established in the Wadi Hadhromout area that was used as
a pilot, which improved the distribution process.
In addition to assistance from the Food Agriculture Organization, Yemen in an effort to
alleviate the food crisis also received assistance from the World Food Programme. The World
Food Programme or abbreviated to WFP is an international organization founded by FAO in
1960. This organization focuses on providing humanitarian assistance and long-term
development of food programs in developing countries (Jannah, 2014). Seeing the food crisis
that occurred in Yemen, the World Food Programme swiftly stepped in to help deal with the
food crisis. However, in its operation, because the World Food Programme (WFP) is an
organization under the auspices of the United Nations and does not have a special budget, the
WFP depends on donor countries that are members of its membership (Hariani, 2017). Not
only relying on donor countries, WFP also obtains non-state donors, conducts humanitarian
campaigns, and so on.
Reporting from the official website of the World Food Programme (WFP), in helping to
deal with cases of food crisis in Yemen, there are several programs carried out including:
Food Aid
By 2022, the World Food Programme (WFP) aims to provide assistance to nearly 13
million people in the form of emergency food aid consisting of in-kind flour, beans, oil,
sugar, salt, or vouchers or cash to purchase the same amount of food.
Cash Assistance
The World Food Programme (WFP) has expanded cash transfers in the Yemeni region,
enabling the market to stably meet people's basic food needs. To support this program,
the World Food Programme enrolled beneficiaries on a new biometric platform. Through
this system, people receive cash equivalent to the value of the food basket provided to the
family. The amount of the cash transfer will also be adjusted according to the conditions
in Yemen, as some places have more expensive food commodities.
Nutrition Support
In response to high rates of acute, moderate and severe malnutrition in children and
women, the World Food Programme aims by 2022 to provide nutrition support to 3.7
million pregnant and lactating women and children.
Eating at School
The World Food Programme aims to provide daily nutritious snacks, either dates or high-
energy biscuits to 2.4 million school children by 2022. The program focuses on areas
affected by conflict, which leads to low school attendance and poor food security.
Logistics
The UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) managed by the World Food Programme
continues to transport humanitarian aid workers between Sana'a, Djibouti and Amman. In
addition, the logistics cluster facilitates weekly sea transportation shuttles for humanitarian
workers between Aden and Djibouti. Not only that, but the World Food Programme has
also taken part in thinking about the distribution of foodstuffs to every region in Yemen.
Kids
The conflict in Yemen has also affected the condition of children in the country. The
number of malnourished children has doubled due to lack of clean water, sanitation and food.
As noted by UNICEF in 2012, Yemen has a percentage of malnourished children as much as
57% or 759 thousand children and is second only to Afghanistan.
In addition to health issues, many Yemeni children have been enlisted into the Yemeni
national army either voluntarily or through a recruitment system. Of course, this is contrary to
the expectations brought by UNICEF. UNICEF as a world organization that is in the realm of
fighting for the fulfillment of children's rights certainly wants children in Yemen to get the
same rights according to their developmental needs. Therefore, UNICEF has committed to
fight for the rights of children in the world in general, excluding children in Yemen through
various aspects of concern such as health and nutrition, education, emergency assistance,
protection, and water and sanitation. UNICEF also works with many parties in realizing these
ideals to ensure a better world for children (Black, Maggie. 1992).
Based on data presented by UNICEF, the problem of malnutrition in children, especially
in toddlers in Yemen in 2018 amounted to 400,000 people, fortunately in 2019 there was a
decrease in the number of malnutrition in children to 310,901 people. However, there was a
very drastic spike in the number of malnutrition in 2020, which reached 3,600,000 people, of
course this figure is very much different from the previous year's figure. Similarly, the
number of children forced to drop out of school due to the impact of the conflict in Yemen, in
2018 the number reached 3,700,000 children, increasing in 2019 which reached 4,000,000
children. It seems that the number of out-of-school children in Yemen is increasing and even
soaring, as evidenced by the data received in 2020 the number of out-of-school children
reached 7,800,000 children. UNICEF is concerned that children in Yemen are being affected
by the ongoing war, so immediate and appropriate action must be taken. The efforts that have
been made by UNICEF are divided into several aspects including:
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Nutrition Sector
Since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many children have suffered from acute
malnutrition, supported by the famine situation that affects one-third of the Yemeni people,
even though children are vulnerable to malnutrition. This condition makes Yemen ranked
number 11 as the most unsafe country in terms of food security, this fact is then supported by
the statement of The World Food Program (WFP). The war and conflict in Yemen has also
led to the blocking of exports and imports, even though Yemen relies heavily on hanging
imports to achieve food security. Fulfillment (Chatham House & UNICEF, 2011).
In light of this situation, UNICEF, together with other countries and non-governmental
organizations takes on the role of carrying out its obligations to protect the rights of children
in Yemen in the nutrition sector by cooperating in the distribution of foodstuffs, providing
therapy and treatment, distributing nutritional supplements, monitoring the nutrition system
not only for children but also for pregnant and lactating mothers.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Health Sector
When access to public facilities is limited due to the conflict in Yemen, it certainly has an
impact on the emergence of various health problems such as polio, measles and cholera. Data
reported by Welthungerhilfe shows that there are 14 million people who do not get access to
health, coupled with the scarcity of medicines that afflict Yemen (DW, 2019). This condition
is then exacerbated by the blockade caused by the conflict which hampers the distribution of
medicines. In addition, medical personnel are also victims of atrocities caused by the conflict,
and do not get paid for their work, so many medical personnel prefer to flee Yemen.
Of course, UNICEF as an international organization must carry out its mandate, therefore
UNICEF holds health campaigns, provides vaccines, and treats children who experience
health problems. In addition, UNICEF also firmly requested to open the blockade on access to
the distribution of medicines assisted by the ceasefire.
Protection and Safeguarding Children's Rights in WASH Sector (Sanitation)
The infrastructure destroyed by the conflict has forced Yemenis to live in displacement.
Half of the refugees living in emergency settlements have no services (Yemen WASH Desk
Review, 2020). In the end, UNICEF together with WHO, which then collaborated with the
World Bank, formed The Yemen Emergency Health and Nutrition Project (EHNP) program
which aims to maintain the operation of the water supply and sanitation system. This was
done to ensure the sustainability of the provision of water and sanitation services, and to
strengthen local water institutions to prevent future disease outbreaks (World Bank, 2019).
The program cost US$683 million, with the following achievements: 1) providing operational
costs and basic supplies to 3,550 health facilities 2) providing 15,000 trained medical
personnel 3) providing nutrition services to women and children 4) treating 700,000 children
for chlamydia and reducing mortality 5) providing immunization services to 6.7 million
children 6) providing prenatal care and birth by medical personnel to 630,583 pregnant
women (World Bank, 2019).
Protection of Children's Rights from the Threat of Violence
The conflict in Yemen seems to have caused many victims of all ages. UNICEF recorded
that there were 7,500 children were killed and permanently maimed by explosives used on the
battlefield. In addition, 3,300 boys were drafted into the army, and many others were reported
as hostages, victims of torture, abuse and abduction (UNICEF, n.d).
UNICEF deeply regrets what is happening to children in Yemen. Therefore, UNICEF is
trying to provide recovery children who have been traumatized by the violence they have
experienced. In addition, assistance such as psychological provision, psychosocial support,
availability of community access UNICEF also provided a social space for the children to play
and socialize. UNICEF also conducted awareness programs on the impact of war and
provided information on the dangers of war equipment including explosives to avoid further
casualties.
Protecting and Safeguarding Children's Rights in the Education Sector
The consequences of the conflict in Yemen have certainly caused a setback in the
education system. Many educational facilities have been destroyed and cannot be used, and
educators are not paid due to insufficient financial resources for school operations. UNICEF
is concerned about this, so in 2019, training on active learning was provided to
6,155 teachers. In addition, UNICEF also provided access to education for
253,406 children through the construction of semi-permanent classrooms and school
rehabilitation (UNICEF, 2019).
Conclusions
The conflict in Yemen seems to have drained many tears from the victims and many pairs
of eyes in the world. Until now, there is no bright spot when the suffering of the Yemeni
people will end. Too many victims have fallen due to the continuation of this conflict. Not
only the casualties, the people who are still given the chance to live seem to be unable to sleep
peacefully. Many coercions, ceasefires, and kidnappings have caused a humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. The destruction of various public facilities has made it impossible for the Yemeni
people to get access to health, education, and even food availability.
Fortunately, international organizations have not remained silent in response. Food
Agriculture Organization, World The Food Programme (WFP), and even UNICEF are some
of the international organizations that have been involved in accordance with their fields in
the humanitarian crisis that occurred in Yemen. With a variety of assistance in the form of
food supplies, socialization, training, sanitation, and treatment, at least some of it has paid off.
Various worst possibilities that will come can begin to be prevented by various programs
carried out.
It can be seen that the role of international organizations is very important in helping to
get a group of people out of the crisis they face. Although this paper has described the role
played by several international organizations in responding to the humanitarian crisis in
Yemen. But of course there are still shortcomings in this writing, such as the obstacles faced
by international organizations related to the compliance of conflicting parties with
international norms. It is hoped that future research can reveal these shortcomings so that they
can complement this paper.
