Friend –

Health care or food? That's a terrible choice many parents in Yemen are facing each day as the war grinds on. Oxfam is working for peace by calling on Congress to end the military assistance that fuels the fighting. But on a daily basis, families fleeing the conflict struggle to find a place to live and work, and money for food and health care.

Eight out of 10 people are in need of humanitarian assistance, as a cholera epidemic and profound financial crisis grip the country.

One woman told Oxfam staff that she is trying to earn income by cleaning houses and cutting and selling firewood. Her youngest son, just 13 months, is not well. He can't walk – too weak to even stand up on his own.

Since she only makes enough money to buy tea and bread for her four children, she is faced with some terrible decisions when one of them falls ill: "I never take them to the hospital," she says. "I can't pay for medication."

Friend, thanks to you, we've helped three million people in Yemen by providing cash to families so they can buy food, delivering clean water, and improving sanitation in some of the most remote areas of the country. Together, we're working with families to help ensure they do not need to choose between food and medicine.

Read more about how Oxfam supporters like you are helping families in Yemen and around the world.

Women in Yemen are taking great risks to protect their families from fighting, shelling, and air strikes, while they struggle to find work to pay for the food and medical care they need to survive.

Scott Paul, humanitarian lead for Oxfam, says families with young sons face terrible choices – Should they join a militia and fight? They might earn a reliable income the family needs for food and health care, but risk death.

Another option, unthinkable under most circumstances, confronts families with girls – When presented with a marriage proposal, should they accept a bride price they need for health expenses and food?

One mother, who borrowed money to pay to have her son's leg amputated after a car accident, accepted a dowry for her 14-year-old daughter. "I wouldn't have had to marry her off if I had not borrowed money," she told Oxfam staff who visited her recently. "But I did not have another option to pay off my debt."

Friend, these are difficult choices no parent should be forced to make. With your help, we're providing assistance to families in Yemen today, and encouraging all parties involved in the conflict to put a permanent end to the war.

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