Student Spectrums

Abdo Alghaithi is a Yemeni American and studies in 10th grade at a private high school.

The Yemeni war, which has been ongoing for years, is among the most tragic humanitarian catastrophes of our time. Instead of being only a story about politicians and statistics, it is a very personal experience for many individuals, including me. Since I still have family in the thick of the chaos, I have seen firsthand the toll that this violence takes on both individuals and communities. Yemen was one of the poorest nations in the Arab world before the war. The prolonged war has worsened the issues, pushing the country dangerously near to starvation and leaving millions of people in desperate need of food. Basic needs including access to clean water, healthcare, and education are essentially nonexistent in many locations.

The battle ruins goals, breaks families, and robs children of their childhoods; it is more than just a power struggle between the two sides. Children are currently dealing with trauma, hunger, and displacement rather than education and play. Women, who often bear the brunt of the war, fight to provide for their families while being threatened with exploitation and violence. The violence has directly or indirectly claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people, the majority of whom were innocent bystanders.

To me, the war is more than just a distant conflict. Every day, my family members who stay in Yemen worry about it. Every time I hear of an attack or a new round of conflict, I worry about their safety because they are not excellent communicators. My family members have told me horrific tales of surviving, including going days without eating, hiding 24/7 due to bombs, and always worrying about disease outbreaks due to a lack of sanitation and clean water. I live with a constant worry that someone I love could be a future victim.

The feeling of helplessness, however, hurts far more. I feel bad about being safe when my family is not, even if I am fortunate to be out of immediate danger. Although financial aid is beneficial, it feels insignificant when the entire nation is experiencing difficulties. The sadness is made worse by the fact that it all seems to have been avoidable. Major powers arm and support opposing factions in the battle, which is mostly the result of political rivalry and international interests. These outside forces have turned Yemen into a battlefield for indirect conflict, with its people bearing the consequences of decisions taken in other capitals.

The world needs to take something in response to Yemen’s suffering, not just acknowledge it. The conflict is a worldwide human failure, not just a Yemeni tragedy. The international community must pursue those guilty for extending this crisis, use ceasefires, and provide humanitarian relief to reach those in need. Yemen’s tale cannot be forgotten for the sake of my family and the millions who are still suffering. It is more than simply a war; it is a wound on the global consciousness that will not go away until there is stability, justice, and peace restored.