The many conflicts that currently bedevil the planet often overlap. The misery caused by war affects, above all, the poorest.

The Yemen conflict threatens to flare up again after the UN-mediated 6-month truce ended on October 2, when the two sides rejected a proposal for a further extension and expansion of the arrangement. The UN Special Envoy responsible for Yemen is continuing his efforts to negotiate between the Iran-backed Houthi and the Internationally Recognized Government (IRG), which a Saudi Arabia-led group supports. The truce brought relief to the Yemeni people with access to humanitarian aid and a downturn in violence. However, there were still accidents and violent acts that happened during this time because of things like mines and explosives that were left over from the war. The number of casualties has dropped to its lowest level since 2015. Sadly, the conflict is caused by a mix of things, such as the differences between the Houthis and the IRG, the work of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, and hostilities between different ethnic groups.

At the same time, East African refugees—reported at 10,000 per year—have reached the north of Djibouti, hoping to find work in Saudi Arabia. The majority is unaware of the war in Yemen, near Djibouti. The majority are refugees from Ethiopia and neighboring countries. Over the past two years, the battle has raged in Tigray, in the north of Ethiopia. 

By mid-2022, it is estimated that 25,000 migrants from East Africa will have arrived in the Arabian Peninsula, where they will stay virtually out of sight from the rest of the world. Many came to Djibouti starving, having given their all to human traffickers, who do this dangerous work out of poverty, as is true of all smuggling in this region.  

Not all causes of conflict can be quickly dealt with. But getting food to starving people is an important issue worldwide, especially in war zones where aid groups are often banned. As it is said, hunger results from inequitable food distribution globally, causing extreme poverty, which means living on $2.15 or less per day.

Where is the often-hailed “new economic order” to change this appalling rich-poor situation? It seems to have drifted out of sight, given the many global problems. I fear the wealthy are more concerned with the decline of the stock market. 

The fight against poverty has been relegated to aid agencies and civil initiatives. A worldwide outcry is missing!