Oxfam Global Programmes Director

We speak to Lydia Zigomo, Global Programmes Director of Oxfam International. She discusses why the UN classifies Yemen as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, the story of a young boy named Omar who has spent most of his life in displacement camps, continuing US and UK arms sales to the Saudi-led coalition bombing Yemen fuelling the continuing conflict, the ignoring of the Yemen War by the media and much more.

We contacted the Embassy of Yemen in London about the allegations made in this segment and they said:

1) The paragraph has disregarded completely the role of Iran as a major player and supporter of the Houthies in their coup against the legitimate government in Yemen.

2) The paragraph has neglected the main cause of the crisis in Yemen, i.e. the military coup taking over Yemen by the Houthi rebellion supported by Iran.

3) If you want to help Yemen get out of this plight, you can follow the efforts made by the Yemeni Government and Saudi Arabia calling for a political solution to put an end to this war and you will figure out the role of Iran in disrupting all these efforts.

4) Landmines are used by the Houthies that are killing and injuring the civilians.

5) The attacks on Marib and other cities have always been initiated by the Houthies backed by Iran. The Yemeni Government backed by the alliance are seeking a peaceful solution and any action taken by them is in defence not attack.

6) The humanitarian crisis in Yemen must end and can only be resolved with the Houthies agreement to a peaceful solution and Iran withdrawing its support from the Houthies.

7) The refusal of peace by the Houthies has exacerbated the humanitarian situation in Yemen.