Image credit: AHMAD AL-BASHA AFP
It is the first time in recent history that the four corners of the world have been united by a power that is beyond our control. Although COVID-19 has not been the first pandemic in the last 20 years, what has caused this virus to commandeer normality is its ability to spread exponentially and fundamentally stop what we used to call the status quo. Some call it saturation, others call it information, but without a doubt, we are bombarded with daily reports on this pandemic to such an extent that it has become a source of anxiety for many. COVID-19 has been a ceaseless topic of conversation since it is something that we all relate to, in a way, it has created a certain sense of community in dark times. Despite this, the amount of information, opinion, and speculation on the subject has buried important events that not only affect international diplomacy, but also the human rights of thousands of people. An outstanding case is that of Yemen. Although the history that has led to this disastrous conflict is not linear and has many complexities, one thing is clear, Saudi Arabia and Iran are acting as puppet masters, Yemen being the stage and the civilians the poor puppets. Saudi Arabia supports the Yemeni government which is getting weaker by the day.
On the other hand, Iran supports insurgent military groups with the aim of overthrowing Yemen’s government and gaining the area's natural resources that include large oil reserves and the most fertile land on the Arabian Peninsula. This explanation does not give enough credit to the complexity of the conflict, but by understanding these facts, one can gain an understanding of the foundation for the conflict and begin to explore the debilitating effects of this dispute. UNICEF has concluded that the situation in Yemen is the largest humanitarian crisis in the world with more than 24 million people (culminating in 80% of the country's population) in need of urgent humanitarian aid. Violence and poverty have reached such a level that two out of three people do not have enough resources to obtain food. Even so, this information is not widely covered due to excess coverage related to other topics and the media turning a blind eye.
The problem with these one-sided accounts is that it takes away the opportunity for individuals to educate themselves and help, whether it be with donations or advocacy to raise awareness. The job of the media is to deliver balanced and informed reports to the public. In the end, even though the world is under great pressure given the situation with COVID-19, we have the right to remain informed about global occurrences. This does not diminish the importance of the difficulties experienced during these unprecedented times, but information is power. Being educated is a necessity because it opens the gateway to gather resources in an attempt to help, inform, and make the world a better place.
Written By: Carolina Mejia Rodriguez
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