Vicar of Arabia laments that weapons are stronger than diplomacy in Yemen, and people suffer
For Bishop Martinelli, the sudden escalation comes after Trump's decision to declare the Houthis a terrorist group. The conflict is at risk of getting hot with tragic consequences for civilians. Poverty is extreme and humanitarian projects are hard to implement. The work of the Sisters of Mother Teresa is a “point of reference” for the few Christians who remain in the country.
Milan (AsiaNews) – The US attack on the Houthis in Yemen came “suddenly in some respects " although "significantly close to the increasingly fragile truce between Israel and Hamas,” which then collapsed overnight between 17 and 18 March, with the military escalation imposed by the Jewish state, this according to Bishop Paolo Martinelli, apostolic vicar of Southern Arabia (United Arab Emirates, Oman and Yemen).
“Since the new president of the United States declared the Houthis 'terrorists', we have begun to think carefully about the possible consequences of these statements in North Yemen,” the prelate said reflecting about the new tensions in the region, in part linked to the decisions of the Trump administration.
“We were waiting to figure out the actual implications” since, by stopping the attacks, “the truce between Israel and Hamas had favoured a certain calm and cautious optimism.” Now the picture has changed as weapons seem to have overtaken diplomacy.
Analysing US attacks and the Houthi response at commercial shipping in the Red Sea in support of Hamas in Gaza, Archbishop Martinelli warns that if it becomes "an open and large-scale conflict it will be a cause of deep pain for the possible consequences on civilians.”
“People have been burdened by ten years of civil war. We can only vaguely imagine the suffering of the population in the event of a full-scale war.” For this reason, he warns, the priority must be on “sparring” innocent lives.
On poverty, the bishop said: “We have little direct information, but certainly things are hard.” In fact, the fate of the weakest groups has regained prominence, in particular children (some as young as 10 or 11) forced to work as drivers to earn some money to help their families.
“Because of great insecurity, it is hard to carry out humanitarian aid projects that can actually change the situation and finally allow a new beginning. It is a cause of great suffering to think that in such a beautiful country, people find themselves in such poverty" and those who pay for it "are above all the weak and children.”
War in Yemen broke out in 2014 as an internal conflict that escalated into full-scale fighting with the intervention, in March 2015, of Saudi Arabia at the head of a coalition of Arab countries opposed to the Houthi rebels supported by Iran.
According to the United Nations, the war has killed more than 400,000 people and triggered the "worst humanitarian crisis in the world", on top of which, COVID-19 had "devastating" effects. Millions of people on the brink of starvation and children – 10,000 dead in the conflict – will suffer the consequences for decades.
More than three million people are internally displaced, living mostly in conditions of extreme poverty, hunger and epidemics of various kinds, not least cholera.
On a positive note, Bishop Martinelli pointed to the fact that a truce is holding between the government (supported by Saudi Arabia) and the Houthis (backed by Iran).
“The news we have is that things between the two parties are calm at the moment,” the prelate explained. “This does not mean that problems have been solved" but "it is certainly a good thing that fighting has stopped.”
What is more, “The situation in the south appears to have improved,” and the appointment by the Holy See of the apostolic nuncio “is a sign of hope”.
After a recent pastoral visit to Oman, the prelate returned the headquarters of the Vicariate of Southern Arabia, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), an ideal post to observe the many crisis areas in the Middle East.
“We look with concern at what is now happening in Yemen,” which is front page news in the Emirates as well as Oman.
Omanis are known for their gentleness. Local “authorities support values such as outreach, tolerance, social coexistence among people” because without them "conflicts at various levels are inevitable.”
“For my part,” it is important “to remind the people and the authorities I meet about Pope Francis’s constant message on the absurdity of war and on the need to promote paths of reconciliation, through effective diplomatic action and the spread of a culture of peace.”
Bishop Martinelli also mentioned the Christian community in Yemen, starting with the Sisters of Mother Teresa of Calcutta who are “present in the north of the country", with whom he is in "almost daily contact, especially now.”
Despite the brutal attack by jihadis against the Sisters’ Aden compound more than nine years ago, during which four nuns died, they chose to stay in the country and still carry out “a huge amount of work caring for the sick and seniors, despite the great hardships they face.”
“In fact, they constitute a point of reference for the faithful who remain,” and while “many Christians have left Yemen in recent years,” others “have stayed behind, and we try to be in contact with them discreetly."
“In the south there is a Caritas office thanks to the support of Caritas Poland and Cordais. Our four churches, including the cathedral of Aden, are all unusable because they were severely damaged in the civil war,” the prelate explained.
“With the resumption of diplomatic relations with the Holy See, I hope to visit at least Aden soon.” At the same time, “We would like to reassure Catholics that, when the conditions are right, we shall provide the necessary spiritual and pastoral assistance, and we pray that it may happen soon.”
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