Yemen by Ethan Machado

Yemen is a country situated at the southwestern corner of the Arabian Peninsula. According to Britannica, it is mostly mountainous and generally arid, although there are broad patches with sufficient precipitation that help make agriculture successful. Of the 29.83 million people that live in Yemen, the majority of residents are Muslim who speak various dialects of Arabic. The history, culture, economy, and population of Yemen have all been influenced by the country’s strategic location at the southern entrance of the Red Sea. The people of Yemen have a tendency to divide themselves between northern and southern groups, a historical division that has linguistic roots but which is otherwise difficult to trace.

According to AFS Intercultural Programs USA, Yemenis are generally hospitable people who value close relationships with members of their family and community. God and family are considered the most important aspects of their traditional society. Many Yemenis take pride in their country’s dedication to Islam. The website also describes Yemeni's family dynamic as very supportive of each other. Most people live with extended family members under one roof or nearby. The average number of children per family is three or four. Large families are preferred in rural areas. In most families, aunts, uncles, and grandparents help raise the children. Elderly family members are revered in Palestinian culture. Fathers are expected to financially support their children until they leave home. Mothers are responsible for shaping their children’s morals and education. Children are expected to follow and respect their parents’ wishes. Yemeni teenagers spend most of their time socializing, volunteering, or participating in sports. Yemeni teenagers also play video games, watch movies, listen to music, or drive around. Young women usually go out to visit relatives and friends on a regular basis. Parks and shopping malls in larger cities are also popular for young Yemenis.

Yemeni Diet: A main Yemeni meal begins with a cup of soup made from meat broth, followed by either fish, chicken, goat, or beef served with vegetables, salad, and rice or pasta. *Saltah* (a spicy stew made with fenugreek) is a popular dish. Another popular Yemeni dish is *aseeda*, a large wheat dumpling that can be topped with sweet or savory sauce. Yemenis also eat *ful* (a spicy bean dish) and scrambled eggs with tomatoes, onions, and green chilies. *Bint al-sahn* is a festive bread served hot with clarified butter and warm honey.

While what I have described so far makes Yemen seem like a country avoid of problems it is not. Yemen is one of the world’s poorest and least-developed countries. According to Britannica, the majority of Yemenis are subsistence agriculturalists however, only about 3 percent of the country’s land is arable. Since the recent escalation of the civil conflict, more than 3 million people have fled their homes in search of safety and security. Two million people remain internally displaced across the country. The lives of millions of families have been disrupted and thousands have been forced into makeshift camps. Many of these camps’ main water supply has been cut off, causing residents to have to trek long distances to fetch water. More than 16 million people in Yemen lack access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene services. According to the UN’s office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs 7 million people are on the cusp of famine, including 500,000 severely malnourished children. It is clear to see that the situation in Yemen is very dire, and there is a long list of humanitarian problems that need to be addressed.

Link to Collective Harvest #4: https://scc-glst-302-global-issues.fandom.com/wiki/Yemen\_by\_Ethan\_Machado:\_Collective\_Harvest\_4?veaction=edit

Link to Infographics on Canva: https://www.canva.com/design/DAE-L2ny0hw/nD2ywQygmE8CNW4R1lKu1w/edit