U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released a statement on Thursday calling on Saudi Arabia to immediately lift a blockade in Yemen that has prevented aid from flowing into the country. The blockade threatens to starve millions of Yemini civilians.
“The blockade is a death sentence for millions of innocent men, women and children. There is not enough food, fuel or medicine inside the country for Yemenis to survive. Yemen is already facing more than 600,000 cases of cholera and there are not enough vaccines in the country to stop new disease outbreaks. Fuel prices have skyrocketed, forcing the closure of hospitals and other institutions. ” Murphy Said
He added “If the United States continues to support the Saudi-led coalition as they enforce the blockade, we will be enabling starvation as a weapon of war. The UN’s top humanitarian official warned that unless access is granted soon, Yemen will experience the largest famine the world has seen in many decades, with millions of victims. ”
Murphy has been a vocal critic of U.S. support for military campaigns in Yemen that have led to devastating humanitarian consequences and a security vacuum that has empowered terrorist groups.
