The stunning landscapes of Southern Arabia hide a deep concern that weighs heavily on the heart of Bishop Paolo Martinelli, the Apostolic Vicar of the region. His worry stems from the potential consequences that civilians in Yemen may face if a new wave of “open and large-scale conflict” were to break out.
By Christopher Wells
As the highest-ranking prelate in Southern Arabia, Capuchin Bishop Paolo Martinelli has raised alarms about the escalating conflict in Yemen. Recent airstrikes by US forces, in response to attacks by Houthis on Red Sea shipping and ballistic missile strikes on Israeli targets, have resulted in over 100 casualties. US President Donald Trump’s threats of annihilation towards the Houthi rebels have only added to the tension.
The ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel further complicates diplomatic efforts to end the civil war in Yemen, which began in 2014 when Houthi rebels seized control of the capital, Sana’a. This conflict sparked what was then termed as “the worst humanitarian crisis in the world,” with an estimated 400,000 lives lost and millions displaced, facing hunger, poverty, and disease.
The Vulnerable Bear the Brunt
Bishop Martinelli laments the challenges in providing humanitarian aid amidst the insecurity that plagues the region. He reflects, “It is heart-wrenching to witness a beautiful country like Yemen engulfed in such poverty.” The most vulnerable, especially children, bear the brunt of the crisis, with three million internally displaced Yemeni children enduring extreme poverty, hunger, and the threat of epidemics like cholera.
‘A Painful Reality’
While temporary truces offer a glimmer of hope, President Trump’s classification of Houthis as “terrorists” has reignited fears of a full-blown conflict. Bishop Martinelli warns of dire consequences for civilians in North Yemen if such a scenario unfolds, terming it “a cause of great pain.” The Yemeni population has already endured a decade of civil strife, and the specter of widespread war only adds to their suffering.
