Press Briefing: Saudi Bombing of Yemen Sparks Humanitarian Crisis

CODEPINK Press Release

Contact: Alli McCracken
alli@codepink.org

April 7, 2015

Washington, DC – The Saudi military intervention in Yemen, including a total air and maritime blockade on the poorest Arab country, has sparked a humanitarian crisis.

Over two weeks of constant bombardments by the Saudi army and its allies, the civilian victims have surpassed 500 civilian deaths, including 74 children, and thousands others injured, according to the World Health Organization.

The violence has made it impossible for sufficient humanitarian aid to be delivered, even by the International Red Cross (ICRC). This has resulted in massive food shortages in a country that depends on imports for 90% of its food.

This event will address the humanitarian crisis and the political implications of the war and will feature speakers from Yemen and the Gulf region, as well as experts and activists from the United States.

Location:  US House of Representatives Cannon Building, room 441
Date: April 10, 2015
Time: 10 AM -12:00 PM

Speakers:

Husain AlBukhaiti, Yemen activist speaking from Sanaa via Skype
Ali AlAhmed, The Institute for Gulf Affairs
Hamza al-Shargabi, Student of Emergency Management Post Graduate Program at Boston University, medical doctor from Yemen who has worked with Doctors Without Borders, the Red Cross, and the United Nations 
Baraa Shiban, Yemen Project Coordinator at Reprieve, member of the Yemeni National Dialogue
      
Organizers:

The Institute for Gulf Affairs
Global Exchange
Just Foreign Policy
CODEPINK