Yemen Fighting Terrorism

Since the failed Yemeni terrorist attacks on Dec. 25, 2009, Yemen continues to remain in the political spotlight. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown organized a Yemen conference for Jan. 27,. 2010, in London. Twenty countries, including the United States, attended to "declare themselves friends of Yemen", according to The New York Times. President Barack Obama sent Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to represent the U.S.
Clinton reaffirmed the U.S.'s support for Yemen in fighting terrorism, but criticized the Yemeni government for falling short of their resolutions. The New York Times quoted her as saying, "You can't just continue to make promises in the face of very tough challenges like the ones Yemen is facing without being expected to actually manage and resolve some of those problems."

UNICEF also has recently criticized Yemen's insufficient progress in fulfilling the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4, which aims to reduce the under five-mortality rate by two-thirds between 1990-2015. Currently, according to UNICEF, the infant mortality rate (under one) is 75 per 1,000 in Yemen. Roughly 84,000 children under five die every year, which equals 250 deaths every day. Thirty-six percent of children under the age of five are underweight, 41.8 percent of the population is below the National Poverty Line, 15.7 percent live on less than U.S. $1 a day, and 45.2 percent live on less than U.S. $2 a day. And, according to the World Organization Against Torture in 2001, almost half of Yemeni women have suffered domestic violence and 20 percent have also suffered sexual violence within their marriage.

According to the United Nations, Yemen is ranked 153 on the Human Development Index (HDI). The Yemeni population has one of the highest growth rates at 3.02 percent, meaning the population would double in 23 years to 40 million. These statistics increase the immediate need for action to prevent further deaths, malnutrition, and poverty.

From the United Nations, the Common Country Assessment (CCA) 2005 identified four reasons for the lack of progress to the Human Development Goals. These are: Lack of transparency and participation; disempowerment of women and children; inequitable and unsustainable use of water resources; and, jobless growth in the face of its rising population.

The statistics reflect long-term detrimental effects, especially with the large numbers of displaced children. According to UNICEF, about 175,000 people have been displaced in Yemen since 2004. Consequently, Yemen continues to focus on the youth population, with nearly half of its population under 15 years old.

Besides the Millennium Goals, the United States' persistence, and the Human Development urges, Yemen is trying to increase progress through educational camps and providing safe-friendly "child zones." Another threat poses challenges to Yemen. Two vital resources to Yemen are becoming scarce and are expected to run out in five years. These are oil, Yemen's main source of income, and water.

While major nations have met in London to discuss potential terrorist threats from Yemen, the nation has more to focus on internally. Clinton realized this and applauded Yemen for being honest about their struggles amidst drastic statistics. She said, "I saw something today that is rare to see anywhere, and that is a report by a government that was brutally honest about the problems it faces," according to The New York Times.