In response to the White House decision to invoke emergency authority to make additional arms sales to members of the Coalition engaged in military operations in Yemen, Michelle Nunn, CARE USA’s President and CEO said:
“CARE staff in Yemen have witnessed firsthand how indiscriminate bombing by both sides in the conflict have killed innocent men, women and children and upended their lives by damaging critical public infrastructure like hospitals, roads and water systems. Providing more weapons will mean more lives are lost in what is already the world’s largest humanitarian crisis.
On top of the constant threat to their lives, nearly 80% of Yemenis are in need of humanitarian aid. CARE is working tirelessly to reach as many families as possible and it remains critical that all parties to the conflict uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law to spare civilian lives and allow them to access the aid they so urgently need.
The humanitarian need is great but only an end to the war can truly prevent famine, harm, and death. It is vital that all parties to the conflict commit whole-heartedly to reaching a political solution to this crisis. In support of this, we urge Congress to re-double legislative efforts to end U.S. involvement in the war in Yemen and prevent the loss of more innocent Yemeni lives by banning the sale and transfer of U.S. weapons to Coalition members.”
_____________
CARE, present in Yemen since 1992, reaches over one million of the most vulnerable Yemenis per month providing food, water, sanitation services, reproductive health services, and distributing essential non-food items.
Media Contact
Vanessa Parra, +1 917-525-0590, vanessa.parra@care.org