Washington Post: A shameful virtual media blackout on Yemen

The American newspaper ‘Washington Post’ said on Friday that what is happening in Yemen with the killing of civilians and innocent people with the attacks of the Saudi coalition, is offset by a media blackout in most foreign newspapers and the American media.

In February, 19 children were among at least 31 civilians killed in Saudi-and-Emirati-led coalition airstrikes in Yemen. There is a virtual media blackout on Yemen at the same time that the United States is giving a blank check of military support to the Saudi- and Emirati-led coalition’s brutal war.

Yemen is one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. Twenty-two million people are in need of humanitarian assistance because of the war. There are 1.2 million cases of cholera — the largest outbreak in modern history — and 8 million children lack regular access to safe water.

Despite this, the United States provides military information, weapons and strategy to the Saudi- and Emirati-led coalition responsible for the bulk of the suffering. This is unacceptable.

U.S. policies in Yemen have only prolonged the conflict. The United States should use its diplomatic tools to build peace, not incite war. I call on our government to take action: Stop enabling the Saudi- and Emirati-led coalition, support negotiations for peace and use U.S. resources to help the Yemeni people.