Yemen: How one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters could get even worse

Published

1 year ago

April 9, 2024

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The grinding misery in Yemen just got worse. Yet while their own suffering goes on in virtual silence, they still protest in towns across Yemen in their hundreds of thousands about the Israeli bombing in Gaza.

Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the world, has found itself thrust into the centre of the war on Gaza. As if that wasn’t unlikely enough, the Houthi militants who control the bulk of the Yemeni population through a combination of force, fear and extensive outside help from Iran, are now being viewed by many as heroes.

The Houthi actions in wreaking havoc on global shipping routes in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, has seen them surge in popularity at home and gain unexpected influence and cachet abroad.

So, when I interviewed one of the group’s inner circle, the cousin of the Houthi leader, Mohammed al-Houthi, in Yemen this week, he was all smiles.

“The whole world is with the Houthis,” he told me from his base in the capital, Sanaa. “They see we are the only ones taking on Israel and defending our brothers and sisters in Palestine.”

Certainly, the Houthi attacks on shipping routes off the coast of Yemen have massively refocussed a lot of the political and worldwide business attention – and right now, it is the heavily-armed, Iranian-backed militants who appear to have the upper-hand.

The UN envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg has already warned the situation could propel Yemen back into a fresh cycle of war.

He told the UN Security Council last month (15 March): “What happens regionally impacts Yemen and what happens in Yemen can impact the region.”

And the global attention the Houthis attacks have garnered appears to have galvanised the militants even more – whilst the international community seems powerless to halt them.

American and British military attacks on Houthi bases in the north have failed to stop the militants’ assault on shipping. The longer this continues, the more challenging the talks on a lasting peace in the country become, with Mr Grundberg pointing out to the UN: “With more interests at play, the parties to the conflict in Yemen are more likely to shift calculations and alter their negotiation agendas.”

And the Houthi leaders appear all too aware of this with Mohammed al-Houthi telling Sky News: “It’s not the same Yemen as in 2015. We have the weapons and the capability and we have the targets and we have the capacity,” he said in reference apparently to the funds and ammunition they have built up with Iranian help.

He went onto vow to continue the assaults on shipping: “We also have our own surprises if they don’t stop the blockage against Gaza and also the genocide against Gaza.”

The strategically important Yemen has been split by a civil war which began nearly 10 years ago. Houthi militants backed by Iran, seized control of the north of the country as well as the capital in 2015. But the south and Aden are run by an internationally recognised authority which has the support of a Saudi-led coalition which includes America, Britain and the UAE.

The country is a patchwork of armed checkpoints run by the opposing factions as well as other competing fighting groups – all making travel and trade, dangerous and highly challenging. The country and its citizens have suffered massively from this protracted war with both sides accused of extensive human rights abuses and war crimes.

But a year ago, there appeared to be a breakthrough with Iran and Saudi Arabia, the two rival regional powers, agreeing to work towards a lasting peace deal. That was until 7 October – the Hamas attack inside Israel and the Israeli bombardment of Gaza ever since.

Most Yemenis are already predisposed to supporting the rights of the Palestinians but this has reached new levels in the face of the Israeli military operation inside Gaza, now in its sixth month.

The repeated missile and drone attacks by the Houthis militants since November have forced international cargo ships to be re-routed. The longer, more costly journey avoiding the Red Sea and going around the Cape of Good Hope has sent the price of goods up everywhere. The outcome is the poorest countries with the poorest populations have been most severely impacted. And that includes Yemen.

We were at a bread distribution site in Aden, set up by the British charity, Action for Humanity, and saw the lines of hungry children and families queuing up for the free food.

For many, an already challenging situation has just got more so, according to the charity’s Dr Shameela Islam-Zulfiqar.

“Even more people are food insecure, even more are water insecure,” she told us. “And it’s going to take more than INGOs (charities) to plug the gaps of what’s happening here.”

A ramshackle shanty town has grown up over the past few years next door to the distribution point. It’s a hotchpotch of timber, corrugated sheets, discarded fabric and torn tents hammered together to make shelters for hundreds of people displaced by old and new instability.

One of the inhabitants tells us: “The people are all suffering. They live from day to day…some begging, selling scrap or borrowing money…but it’s very difficult.”

At the Al-Sadaqah hospital in Aden, the doctors despair over the mounting numbers of starving children being brought in. Dr Mohammed Rajeh shows us into the malnutrition ward where he says he’s just admitted three more babies overnight. “We are seeing a rise in the number of those babies needing help,” he says. The problem of hunger seems to be getting worse.

Several wards we go into have sick and malnourished young ones. But one ward stands out to us. Side by side in adjacent hospital beds, there are two tiny babies, struggling to stay in this world and tended to by nursing staff who’re not at all confident they will succeed.

The babies are both painfully thin with ribs protruding; extended, bloated stomachs and crinkled extra folds of skin hanging off tiny, stick-like limbs. Both are wasting away from lack of food. Their mothers cant feed them themselves because they are hungry and malnourished themselves.

Their fathers can’t earn enough to feed the families’ adults nor the families’ children. The fight to save the babies is the toughest job Dr Rajeh has right now. “Day to day, we are seeing an increase in patients with diarrhoea and malnutrition,” he says. “And with infections and diarrhoea, we fear for them. We could lose them at any moment.”

Yemen is enduring a near economic collapse. The teetering health system is under enormous strain with more than half the country without access to clean water and now facing a fresh outbreak of cholera.

Emergency isolation tents have been set up in the grounds of Al-Sadaqah hospital to cope with the influx of cholera patients and the extra numbers expected.

“We’re seeing sick people coming from all over Yemen,” Dr Saleh Dobahi told us. He’s especially worried because that suggests to him that there are several sources of the disease around the country. “It’s caused by poor water, poverty, sewage affecting food. People are poor in Yemen,” he added. “And this cholera seems to be a stronger, different strain too. It is very worrying.”

The civil war has taken a terrible toll on Yemen, turning the country into one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters. But the additional strain caused by the regional impact of the Gaza war could be devastating.

“We have a divided country first, and we have all these problems, like inflation,” Dr Dobahi says. “We have war… and now we have another external war…so war not just in Yemen only but outside Yemen too.

“All this has an effect on our lives and at the same time, our health…the health of the population.”

Alex Crawford reports from Yemen with cameraman Jake Britton, specialist producer Chris Cunningham, and Yemen producer Ahmed Baider

World

Inside Iran’s notorious Evin Prison – as Tehran says damage shows Israel targeted civilians

Published

13 hours ago

July 4, 2025

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Inside Iran's notorious Evin Prison - as Tehran says damage shows Israel targeted civilians

It is one of the most notorious and secret places in Iran.

Somewhere foreign journalists are never allowed to visit or film. The prison where dissidents and critics of Iran’s government disappear – some never to be seen again.

But we went there today, invited by Iranian authorities eager to show the damage done there by Israel.

Evin Prison was hit by Israeli airstrikes the day before a ceasefire ended a 12-day war with Iran. The damage is much greater than thought at the time.

We walked through what’s left of its gates, now a mass of rubble and twisted metal, among just a handful of foreign news media allowed in.

A few hundred yards in, we were shown a building Iranians say was the prison’s hospital.

Behind iron bars, every one of the building’s windows had been blown in. Medical equipment and hospital beds had been ripped apart and shredded.

It felt eerie being somewhere normally shut off to the outside world.

On the hill above us, untouched by the airstrikes, the buildings where inmates are incarcerated in reportedly horrific conditions, ominous watch towers silhouetted against the sky.

Evin felt rundown and neglected. There was something ineffably sad and oppressive about the atmosphere as we wandered through the compound.

The Iranians had their reasons to bring us here. The authorities say at least 71 people were killed in the air strikes, some of them inmates, but also visiting family members.

Iran says this is evidence that Israel was not just targeting military or nuclear sites but civilian locations too.

But the press visit highlighted the prison’s notoriety too.

Iran’s critics and human rights groups say Evin is synonymous with the brutal oppression of political prisoners and opponents, and its practice of hostage diplomacy too.

British dual nationals, including Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe were held here for years before being released in 2022 in exchange for concessions from the UK.

Interviewed about the Israeli airstrikes at the time, Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe showed only characteristic empathy with her former fellow inmates. Trapped in their cells, she said they must have been terrified.

The Israelis have not fully explained why they put Evin on their target list, but on the same day, the Israeli military said it was “attacking regime targets and government repression bodies in the heart of Tehran”.

The locus of their strikes were the prison’s two entrances. If they were trying to enable a jailbreak, they failed. No one is reported to have escaped, several inmates are thought to have died.

The breaches the Israeli missiles made in the jail’s perimeter are being closed again quickly. We filmed as a team of masons worked to shut off the outside world again, brick by brick.

World

Gaza aid group reacts to claims American contractors fired at starving Palestinians

Published

1 day ago

July 4, 2025

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Gaza aid group reacts to claims American contractors fired at starving Palestinians

Israeli-backed American contractors guarding aid centres in Gaza are using live ammunition and stun grenades as starving Palestinians scramble for food, an investigation has claimed.

The Associated Press has reported the accounts by two contractors from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), although the organisation has strongly denied the allegations, describing them as “categorically false”.

GHF was established in February to deliver desperately needed aid to people in the besieged enclave, but its work has been heavily criticised by international aid groups.

It has also been subject to intense scrutiny about its operations, which Sky News previously reported are associated with a significant increase in deaths.

AP’s claims, which have not been independently verified by Sky News, came from GHF contractors who spoke on condition of anonymity as they were revealing their employer’s internal operations.

They said they were motivated to speak out as they were disturbed by what they considered dangerous practices by security staff who were often heavily armed.

AP reported the contractors had claimed “their colleagues regularly lobbed stun grenades and pepper spray in the direction of the Palestinians” and “bullets were fired in all directions – in the air, into the ground and at times toward the Palestinians, recalling at least one instance where he thought someone had been hit”.

Contractor: ‘Innocent people being hurt’

“There are innocent people being hurt. Badly. Needlessly,” the contractor told AP.

Videos reportedly provided by one contractor show aid sites, located in Israeli military-controlled zones, with hundreds of Palestinians crammed between metal gates, scrambling to reach aid.

In the background, gunfire can be heard, and stun grenades are allegedly fired into crowds.

The footage does not show who was shooting or what was being shot at, but another video shows contractors in a compound, when bursts of gunfire can be heard. One man is then heard shouting in celebration: “Whoo! Whoo!”.

“I think you hit one,” another says, followed by the comment: “Hell, yeah, boy!”

The contractor who took the video told AP that colleagues were shooting in the direction of Palestinians.

According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry and witnesses, several hundred people have been killed and hundreds more wounded since the GHF sites started operating more than a month ago, amid claims by Palestinians of Israeli troops opening fire almost every day at crowds seeking to reach the aid.

In response, Israel’s military says it fires only warning shots and is investigating reports of civilian harm. It denies deliberately shooting at any innocent civilians and says it’s examining how to reduce “friction with the population” in the areas surrounding the distribution centres.

GHF attacks ‘false claims’

GHF has vehemently denied the accusations, adding that it has investigated AP’s allegations.

In a statement on X, GHF wrote: “Based on time-stamped video footage and sworn witness statements, we have concluded that the claims in the AP’s story are categorically false. At no point were civilians under fire at a GHF distribution site.

“The gunfire heard in the video was confirmed to have originated from the IDF, who was outside the immediate vicinity of the GHF distribution site.

“It was not directed at individuals, and no one was shot or injured. What is most troubling is that the AP refused to share the full video with us prior to publication, despite the seriousness of the allegations.”

Safe Reach Solutions, the logistics company subcontracted by GHF, told the AP there have been no serious injuries at any of their sites to date.

But the organisation admitted that, in isolated incidents, security professionals fired live rounds into the ground and away from civilians to get their attention.

A Safe Reach Solutions spokesperson told AP this happened at the start of their operations at “the height of desperation where crowd control measures were necessary for the safety and security of civilians”.

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Liverpool football star Diogo Jota killed in car crash

Published

1 day ago

July 4, 2025

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Liverpool football star Diogo Jota killed in car crash

Liverpool star Diogo Jota has died in a car crash.

The 28-year-old Portuguese forward died in the accident in the early hours of Thursday morning near Zamora, in northwestern Spain.

His brother, Andre Silva, was also killed in the crash on the Rias Bajas Highway (A-52) near Palacios de Sanabria, heading towards Benavente.

Follow the latest updates following Diogo Jota’s death

Jota and Silva were driving to Santander to catch a ferry back to England ahead of the start of Liverpool’s pre-season training on Monday, CNN Portugal reports.

The news outlet reports that Jota was advised against flying back to England due to recent surgery.

Police said the accident happened at 12.30am when the Lamborghini the pair were travelling in veered off the road.

“A vehicle left the road and everything indicates a tyre burst while overtaking,” the Guardia Civil in Zamora told Sky Sports News in a statement.

“As a result of the accident, the car caught fire and both people were killed. Pending the completion of forensic tests, one of the deceased has been identified as Diogo Jota, a Liverpool FC player, and his brother, Andre Felipe.”

A Spanish government source told the PA news agency that police were investigating the crash as “a possible speeding incident”.

Police added that no other vehicles were involved in the incident.

Pictures of the aftermath of the crash showed debris scattered along the side of the road, including what appeared to be charred parts of the vehicle.

It comes just 10 days after the player married his long-term girlfriend, Rute Cardoso.

He had three children.

The footballer, who played as a striker for Liverpool, began his career in his native Portugal and played at Atletico Madrid in Spain before moving to England.

He joined the Merseyside club from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020.

Jota played an important role throughout his five years with the Reds, including scoring six times in Liverpool’s recent Premier League-winning season.

He scored a total of 47 times in 123 matches for the club. He also played 49 times for the Portugal national side, scoring 14 times.

Silva, 25, played for Penafiel, a Portuguese second division club.

Teammates and football legends pay tribute

A statement issued by Liverpool FC said the club was “devastated” by their player’s death.

“The club have been informed the 28-year-old has passed away following a road traffic accident in Spain along with his brother, Andre,” the club said in a statement.

“Liverpool FC will be making no further comment at this time and request the privacy of Diogo and Andre’s family, friends, teammates and club staff is respected as they try to come to terms with an unimaginable loss.

“We will continue to provide them with our full support.”

The Portuguese football federation said it was “utterly devastated by the deaths”.

“Far beyond being an exceptional player, with nearly 50 caps for the national team, Diogo Jota was an extraordinary person, respected by all teammates and opponents, someone with a contagious joy and a reference within his own community.

“We have lost two champions. The passing of Diogo and Andre Silva represents irreparable losses for Portuguese Football, and we will do everything to honour their legacy daily.”

The Portugal and Spain women’s teams held a minute’s silence for Jota and Silva before their match in the Women’s Euros in Switzerland on Thursday evening.

It came after Liverpool’s manager Arne Slot said in a statement: “What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw? I wish I had the words but I know I do not.

“All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about.

“My first thoughts are not those of a football manager. They are of a father, a son, a brother and an uncle and they belong to the family of Diogo and Andre Silva who have experienced such an unimaginable loss.”

Jota’s former manager at Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp, offered his thoughts in a post on Instagram.

“This is a moment where I struggle! There must be a bigger purpose, but I can’t see it,” he said.

“I’m heartbroken to hear about the passing of Diogo and his brother Andre. Diogo was not only a fantastic player, but also a great friend, a loving and caring husband and father.

“We will miss you so much. All my prayers, thoughts and power to Rute, the kids, the family, the friends and everyone who loved them.”

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk posted on Instagram: “What a human being, what a player, but most importantly what an unbelievable family man.

“You mean so much to all of us and you always will!”

Cristiano Ronaldo, Jota’s captain in the national team, said: “It doesn’t make sense. Just now we were together in the National Team, just now you had gotten married.

“To your family, your wife, and your children, I send my condolences and wish them all the strength in the world.

“I know you will always be with them. Rest in Peace, Diogo and Andre. We will all miss you.”

Jota’s Liverpool teammates Darwin Nunez, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai have also paid tribute.

Szoboszlai wrote: “Words cannot describe how heartbroken and devastated we are… Your smile, your love for the game will never be forgotten.

“We will miss you so much, but you will stay with us forever, on and off the pitch.”

Jota’s former teammates Trent Alexander-Arnold, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Thiago Alcantara have also shared messages on social media.

Mane posted a picture of himself and Jota with heartbreak emojis.

It came as Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish wrote on X: “You feel helpless, knowing there’s so little we can do to ease the pain for his wife of just two weeks, his three beautiful children.”

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard shared an image of Jota on Instagram and wrote: “Condolences to his family and friends during this incredibly sad time.”

Liverpool owners Billy Hogan, John Henry and Tom Werner, who are part of the Fenway Sports Group, said: “This tragic situation and the reality of it is truly shocking, devastating and has left us numb with grief.”

Football icon Lionel Messi has also paid tribute, sharing an image of Jota on Instagram with the message “QEPD” – short for the Spanish phrase ‘que en paz descanse’, which translates to “may he rest in peace'”.

European football clubs such as Barcelona and AC Milan have also shared messages, along with basketball player LeBron James and tennis icon Rafael Nadal.

Meanwhile Liverpool FC have opened a physical and digital book of condolence for supporters and members of the public to sign.

The physical book is at the club’s stadium, in the Anfield Road Stand reception area until Sunday evening.

An avid video gamer, Jota also owned an eSports team and regularly streamed on Twitch.