Will Countries That Devastated Yemen Help Rebuild It?

Saudi Arabia and its Western allies, including the US, spent vast sums on a war that has reduced Yemen to abject poverty. They must not be allowed to shirk responsibility for the reconstruction work that is essential for the future of all Yemenis.

by Jonas Ecke, Jacobin

Aden, a fast-growing city located in the south of Yemen, is nestled amid a jagged mountain range, expansive desert lands, a dormant volcano, and the Red Sea. The Romans called the region “Arabia Felix,” meaning “happy Arabia.”

Yemen has been at the origin and crossroads of civilizations for millennia. Cultural diversity gained through immigration and emigration is ingrained in the nation’s collective psyche, and the country is often recognized for its remarkable — albeit sometimes exploited — hospitality to travelers from around the globe.

Yemen / Taiz City - Aug 06 2018 The devastation caused by the war has caused havoc in civilian neighborhoods and houses of civilians in the Yemeni city of Taiz.

When I spent time between April and December 2022 in Aden as an aid worker, I rarely found myself in a public space without being approached by a Yemeni offering chicken, goat, rice, sweets, cold water, or tea, accompanied by a heartfelt expression of gratitude for visiting and showing interest in a country that all too often grabs global attention with sensationalized stories of state collapse and Jihadism.