Months ago, in the midst of the brutal war, devastating famine and deadly coronavirus pandemic, the United States suspended humanitarian aid to Yemen. But there is still hope: Senator Kirsten Gillibrand wrote a letter to demand that the aid be restored. We need to get as many senators signed on as possible before the September 16 deadline. Contact your senators and ask them to support this important letter! ACT NOW!

Dear John,

I know, I know. Another one? Another email asking you to take action to restore USAID to Yemen? You think we would have annoyed USAID enough by now, but they still haven’t restored aid. This ask is a little different though: there is concrete action being taken in the Senate, and we need to support it. 

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand wrote a letter to Secretary Pompeo and acting administrator Barsa calling for the restoration of USAID funding to Yemen. This action couldn’t come soon enough: the country is in the sixth year of a disastrous, U.S.-supported war, is suffering the world’s worst famine in more than a century, and is being devastated by the coronavirus. Yemen needs help, now more than ever. 

The more senators that sign onto this letter, the better. Restoring and expanding aid to all parts of Yemen at this critical time would alleviate some of the disastrous effects of the war and pandemic. But it won’t happen without cooperation across the Senate. Will you contact your senators and ask that they support Senator Gillibrand’s lifesaving call to restore aid?

For more than five years, Yemen has been in a brutal civil war that has ravaged the country’s infrastructure, healthcare system and society. The United States has directly enabled this war by arming and supporting Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Since 2016, Yemen has also been suffering from a dire famine, considered to be the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Combined with the famine and the country’s vulnerability after years of war, the coronavirus pandemic has hit Yemen with terrifying severity. 

Clearly, Yemen needs help and soon. But USAID stopped sending aid to 80% of Yemen in the early days of the pandemic. It is unbelievably heartless for the richest country in the world to not only ignore and neglect Yemen in a time of great need but to actively subsidize its suffering. U.S.-funded assaults from Saudi Arabia and the UAE have already devastated Yemen — restoring and expanding humanitarian aid is the least we can do. 

Thankfully, Sen. Gillibrand may soon be able to offer relief. Her letter would pressure USAID to restore aid to Yemen. It has the potential to save countless Yemeni lives. Will your senators support this letter and restore humanitarian aid to Yemen?

CODEPINK and other peace organizations that have been working on restoring aid to Yemen reached out to senate offices last week trying to get more senators signed on. Senators Cardin, Murray, and Warren all signed onto Gillibrand's letter after hearing from peace organizations around the country! We hope you will join us and demand your senators sign onto this letter. If enough people take action— you may never get another USAID email again, isn’t that exciting? You will hear from us soon though- the empire is always up to something!  

Towards peace,
Danaka, Ariel, Ann, Angela, Carley, Caty, Cody, Eli, Emily, Izzy, Jodie, Kelsey, Leila, Leonardo, Maxine, Mary, Medea, Michelle, Nancy, Paki, Teri, and Yousef 

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