politics us war houthis infrastructure attacks children yemen military escalation civilian casualties humanitarian crisis sickness magnet children’s hospitals respiratory diseases saudis untold stories air drops precautions drone ops disease-prevention education unicef president trump. the new york times. 15 mar. 2025. web. 16 mar. 2025. .
United States missile strike in Yemen is a significant escalation in a military intervention that is not popular with Americans, worsening infrastructure damage and causing sudden illness and death in children, creating additional and untold stories of death and disease. Despite the fact that the strike targets a Revolutionary (Shi’ite) Houthi movement bent on overthrowing the Yemeni government supported by the United States, children are caught in the crossfire while the Saudis conduct an air war that has often failed to take precautions in minimizing civilian casualties. Drone technology has achieved a high-level of sophistication but has failed to deliver on its promise of eliminating large populations of innocent women and children while specifically targeting resistance leaders.
As Dr. Boutros Benjamin, the head of Jomhouri Hospital’s intensive care unit in Yemen, explains, Sarah’s situation and survival are not atypical for children living in the middle of war zones where malnourished and underweight children are more vulnerable to respiratory illnesses. For Yemen, where respiratory problems now make up nearly 60 percent of all admissions at the pediatric hospital, earlier intervention with air-dropped medicine, parent education, and beds are underfunded and the number of sickness magnet children climbing weekly with no end in sight. The picture painted by these experiences is ugly, disturbing, and bleak. Yet, almost unbelievably, there is hope in this story. Hope that technology and education will save lives and provide a better tomorrow for Sarah and other children facing the same daunting challenges.
The article in the New York Times tells the story of Sarah, a young girl being treated for respiratory problems at one of the last standalone children’s hospitals in Yemen. Sarah’s story reveals the human cost of war in a context of driftaway splinter formations, drone operations, and humanitarian crises. While the randomness and chance of Sarah’s life being spared could be considered a stroke of luck, the example of Jomhouri Hospital in Sana’a gives us a chance to understand how the impact of war can be mitigated and reversed. From the precious gift of life and opportunity to the desperate plea for humanity and compassion, Sarah’s story and the story behind it illustrates what is wrong with war and what we can do to change it.
According to the New York Times article, the recent air strike by the United States in Yemen is a significant escalation in a military intervention that is not popular with Americans. This intervention, which targets the Revolutionary (Shi’ite) Houthi movement, has caused sudden illness and death in children and added to the already daunting task of providing treatment and care for malnourished and underweight children living in war zones. Children also become targets for the Saudi-led air war, which has not successfully minimized civilian casualties. Dr. Boutros Benjamin, the head of Jomhouri Hospital’s intensive care unit in Yemen, explains that Sarah’s survival is not statistically significant as malnourished and underweight children are more vulnerable to respiratory illness. This vulnerability has led to respiratory problems now making up nearly 60 percent of all admissions at the pediatric hospital. Despite limited resources, the hospital is still able to provide care and treatment to children in desperate need of help.
The article’s title, “After Strikes, Yemenis Brace for More Sickness,” underscores the urgent need for intervention in Yemen. The article details lasting infrastructure damage resulting from strikes, cancelling out earlier intervention with air-dropped medicine, adequate parent education, and beds. This story also highlights the work and dedication of healthcare professionals, such as Dr. Boutros Benjamin, who are working day and night to provide care for children in need. In light of the current crisis, the United Nations has called for air drops to provide medicine, education, and beds, but these efforts are woefully underfunded.
In conclusion, the examples of Sarah’s experience and Dr. Boutros Benjamin’s work at Jomhouri Hospital in Sana’a demonstrates the dark reality of the children caught in the middle of war zones and the impact of prolonged humanitarian crises. While the UN and others working in Yemen continue to address the need for intervention and support, healthcare professionals like Dr. Benjamin and volunteers on the ground are working tirelessly to provide care to children in need. The hope is that technology, education, and healthcare professionals can reverse the horrors of war and bring about a better tomorrow for children living in war-stricken countries like Yemen.
Leave a Reply