The United Religions Initiative, The Charter of Compassion, and The Parliament of the World’s Religions released a joint statement yesterday calling for “an immediate cease-fire in the civil war between the Yemen government and the Houthis rebels.”
The letter states that aid workers from religious and humanitarian organizations have been restricted from administering food, water, shelter, and healthcare to 14 million people enduring a deadly famine.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Senate voted to bring to the floor a measure to limit presidential war powers in Yemen. However, it is not clear whether the measure will ultimately be approved. Senators from both parties have shown frustration with the Trump administration’s handling of the war in Yemen, along with its responses to Saudi Arabia after the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
As pressure continues to mount on the Trump administration to act on Yemen, reporters find themselves in a personal dilemma of covering stories first-hand of “malnourished children with skeletal faces.”
The statement released from the interfaith coalition calls for the protection of persecuted religious minorities and for the following steps toward peace in Yemen.
• Stopping all arms deliveries
• Halting attacks on aid workers and civilians
• Ending attacks on hospitals and clinics
• Allowing humanitarian goods, especially food, water, medical supplies, and basic needs, to enter the country without restrictions
• Allowing schools to reopen so children can continue their studies
• Pursuing a political solution to the conflict
You can read the full statement here.
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