Yemen: Crisis Relief

It’s a small, impoverished country in the Arabian Peninsula. It doesn’t have the oil or the political clout of some of its neighbors. But right now, after over three years of war, over 21 million people – 80 percent of Yemen’s total population – is in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

This war hasn’t gotten as much coverage in the US media as other conflicts like those in Syria and Iraq. It’s a complex situation, with no clear enemy or “good guy.” There are tribal factions, religious divisions, and seemingly contradictory moves by larger political powers in the region.

Yemen Needs Help

But what is clear is that people need help; responsibly-given aid that will lift up and empower people to remain in the country and start to put their lives back together.

Everything that keeps a country functioning is destroyed – the economy, infrastructure, education system, medical care, etc. Over 2.8 million people have been displaced by the conflict. People are struggling to simply find food for the day. The news footage and photos that do make the news tell a heartbreaking story of poverty, loss, and senseless violence.

World Gospel Mission has strong connections to non-profit organizations in Yemen. (We cannot state their names or locations because of security concerns.) These groups hand-select people who are involved in aid distribution, who then strategically choose families to receive aid. Every effort is made to ensure aid and resources are distributed responsibly and equitably.

The Hope

“The message is being carried forth by locals,” shared a missionary serving in the Middle East. “This is a time of tremendous opportunity.”

In addition to food distribution, these organizations are also involved in funding water and sanitation projects and education. War destroys a country’s infrastructure, so finding simple solutions to sanitation needs is important to helping people find normalcy again.

In many areas of the country, government-run schools have closed. But through our partners on the group, approximately 600 kids are continuing their education. Schoolbooks and other school resources are also being distributed to areas unreachable by the government. Women’s literacy courses target and equip this particularly oppressed people group.

“We can’t provide for all the needs,” stated the missionary. “But we can help some. And we can do so in a way that glorifies God and helps His people reach out to their country.”

Act

Give: Aid distribution is happening even now, but the need is great. Please partner with our brothers and sisters in Yemen as they bring help and hope to their people.

Pray: Pray for our brothers and sisters as they eke out a daily living in a land torn by war and hardship. Pray that they will be the light that their fellow Yemenis need to see. Pray that the Lord will move in a miraculous way and end the war. Pray that aid will reach those who need it most.