The famine in Yemen has reached strikingly alarming levels and could be one of the worst in history with an astonishing 14 million people entirely dependent on aid.

The famine is affecting all Yemeni citizens, especially children.

Numbers of deaths among children have reached a disgustingly high rate. Almost 50,000 children have died in the last year, and 1.8 million children are currently suffering from malnutrition. The number of children deprived of basic needs such as water, sanitation, and proper hygiene has reached over eight million. Illnesses, such as cholera, have had an outbreak of more than one million cases since last year alone.

The war in Yemen started in 2016 and the country has been feelings its effects ever since. The Yemeni Civil War is between the US-backed Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni government.

Fighting has blocked imports of food and aid from getting into the country. The fighting has caused the prices of food, medicine, gas, and fuel to dramatically increase, along with the massive rate of unemployment, which has caused more than eight million to be on the verge of death.

“It shines light on fact that America often allies itself with less-than-admirable people and countries,” says WHHS history teacher Michael Shale. It “raises the moral question of doing what’s best for America vs. what’s morally right.” According to Shale, the US has made $100 billion dollars in 2 years.

“The US should help Yemen citizens rather than support Saudi Arabia, who we are getting economic benefit from,” says Aseel Daboor, a junior here at WHHS who moved from Saudi Arabia several years ago.

Despite one’s opinion of America’s moral obligations towards Yemen citizens, it is clear that Yemen citizens, especially children, are suffering in consequence of America’s benefit.