Risking their own lives to save other people’s lives, on Wednesday a handful of humanitarian workers managed to beat the Saudi blockade of Yemen to deliver food and warm clothing to people in dire need (their homes have been flattened into uninhabitable piles of rubble and mangled rebar), orphaned children sleep in the dusty streets, and it is not an exaggeration to say there is no food to be purchased, nor water to drink or wash.
“In March 2015 Saudi Arabia, the richest country in the Arabian Peninsula and regional super-power declared war on impoverished Yemen. Backed by a grand regional coalition and the tacit agreement of the international community, Saudi Arabia has ravaged Yemen, raining missiles on its people. As weeks turned into months, Yemenis found themselves caught in the eye of a furious storm, the prisoners of a war they did not seek nor did initiate.
Suffocated by an embargo which has defied all humanitarian laws, Yemen has been cut off the world. With no food, no fuel, no access to clean water, no medicine, no shelter and no means to protect themselves from the harsh climate, millions await, completely destitute,” writes Catherine Shakdam.
A few readers have inquired as to why I proudly support and recommend donating to the Mona Relief fundraising campaign. In response I wrote this article, and I dedicate it to all of the unrecognized soldiers of war – the civilians and medical staff fighting, and dying to keep people alive despite the increasing danger to humanitarian workers and medical facilities – where the rules of war meant to protect civilians and hospitals, apparently no longer apply.
In response to the crisis in Yemen, the Mona Relief campaign has ‘Declared War on Hunger.’
Fatik Al-Rodaini is Director and founder of Mona Relief, a Yemeni Registered Charity. He also accompanies the charity’s staff, and helps distribute their lifesaving care packages; always taking time to visit with families, giving some much-needed humanitarian hugs, and reassurance the world has not forgotten them.
A Yemeni journalist for Khabar News Agency recently said of the Mona staff, “…planting smiles on the faces of children… with distribution of blankets, and winter clothing, and food… and some therapeutic aid.“ [01]
My interactions with Mona staff has been through social media and email communications, however I feel as though I have met the people whose dedication makes the delivery of aid possible in locations that are almost impossible to reach. I picture the men and women (taking a chance of being shot or imprisoned each time they deliver food), walking humbly down the street, unrecognized as heroes, expecting no adulation for their bravery, yet they have earned a place among the most heroic men and women in humanitarian history.
Despite the overwhelming risk of delivering lifesaving necessities to people under siege, these brave ‘civilian soldiers’ are crossing blockades with a mission to save Yemeni families from starving, or freezing to death.
The consequences of defying the Saudi blockade is always present, but this risk does not stop Mona staff. The following photo is a post from Mona’s Director, Mr. Al-Rodaini’s Twitter account, uploaded during Wednesday’s distribution.
I have bad news guys, during our humanitarian work today my car got shot by unknown. Thanks God no one was hurt #Yemenpic.twitter.com/OMHqfe00s8
— Fatik Al-Rodaini (@Fatikr) December 10, 2015
During Rodaini’s interview with Khabar News, he explained how Mona staff are mostly journalists and activists, all working in the cultural and humanitarian sphere. He spoke on how the organization evolved from when the fore-mentioned group began monitoring human right’s violations in Yemen, and witnessed the desperate need for humanitarian aid; by May the group was delivering food to the starving women, children, elderly, and disabled Yemeni people. According to Rodaini the organization is also investigating the targeted houses, as well assessing needs for proper distribution of aid to all internally displaced persons in Yemen.
Rodaini said, “Our work is in many provinces, including Amran, Hajja, Saada and Hodeida, and the secretariat of the capital, with the distribution of basic food aid for the needy who are below the poverty line, and the displaced.” [01]
While speaking of their trips into the district’s of the capital earlier this month, he commented how staff are faithfully determined to deliver van loads of winter clothes, blankets, food, and medical aid in Senynh and Shoveler in the near future. [01]
True to his word, they have. Below are posts from the Mona Relief Twitter page showing photos taken by the Mona team delivering food, clothing, blankets, and medicine to people dying under the airstrikes from the Saudi-led War on Yemen.
“With your donation we will make sure that those who lost everything to war have a safe place to stay, a warm meal to eat and the support they need to get back on their feet.“
Without your help millions of innocent people stand to die. If we wait for governments to act, thousands more will die.
“Yemen needs your generosity and we need you to help us save its children. Every penny raised will be used to provide food, medicine and all other necessities to those most in need,” Catherine Shakdam, Mona Relief.
For more information on the Mona Relief Charity and their dedicated volunteers, you can visit their website here, and the Mona Relief Facebook page is located here. Follow their works on Twitter @MonaReliefye. Please donate generously to the Mona Relief ‘War on Hunger‘ campaign on our Go Fund Me – ColourOfWar fundraising page.
Alistair Reign News Blog 