SANAA // Women in Yemen are worse off now than a year ago, when they played a significant part in the revolution that promised political and economic change, according to an international aid agency.
Four out of five Yemeni women claim their lives have gotten worse over the past 12 months, an Oxfam International report said yesterday.
Faced with an intensifying humanitarian crisis, which has left a quarter of women between the ages of 15 and 49 acutely malnourished, women say they are struggling to feed their families and are unable to participate in the country's transition.
"The food crisis is the biggest impediment," said Sultana Begum, an Oxfam humanitarian policy adviser, who wrote the report. "How do you expect people to participate in this very important process, which is going to decide the future of a country, when they are focused on day-to-day survival?"
The report, which surveyed 136 women across Yemen in July and August, also says the majority of women asserted that they felt less safe than a year ago.
They cited concern over the proliferation of small arms, gun battles in the streets of Sanaa and the risk of sexual assault. In camps for internally displaced individuals, such as in Haradh in the north, women said pressures from current crises have led to higher levels of domestic violence.
Displaced women also said they felt unsafe returning to their homes in provinces such as Abyan to the south, where the government recaptured areas from Al Qaeda militants this summer.
In addition, women said there was a lack of protection provided to them by police and other security authorities.
On the political front, women were emboldened after last year's uprisings, but now claim they feel "sidelined by the transition process and say they have been shut out of decision-making by political parties and the government", the report said.
Some of those interviewed said there should be quotas to include women in parliament and committees overseeing the transition in the new government of the president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi, who replaced the deposed leader, Ali Abdullah Saleh, in February.
Oxfam officials said they have had to scale back some of their relief efforts, which include cash distribution to needy families, because of a lack of funding. Among the recommendations in the report, they are asking the Friends of Yemen, scheduled to meet in New York this week, to immediately allocate humanitarian aid to hit the ground.
Donors in the group have pledged US$6.4 billion (Dh23.5bn), but Oxfam says there needs to be more transparency in tracking where the money goes.
"Right now, Yemen is mired in a quagmire of a humanitarian crisis, it can't pull its way out at the moment and it desperately needs more money," said Caroline Gluck, an Oxfam spokeswoman in Sanaa.
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Two stars
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
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liverpool youngsters
Ki-Jana Hoever
The only one of this squad to have scored for Liverpool, the versatile Dutchman impressed on his debut at Wolves in January. He can play right-back, centre-back or in midfield.
Herbie Kane
Not the most prominent H Kane in English football but a 21-year-old Bristolian who had a fine season on loan at Doncaster last year. He is an all-action midfielder.
Luis Longstaff
Signed from Newcastle but no relation to United’s brothers Sean and Matty, Luis is a winger. An England Under-16 international, he helped Liverpool win the FA Youth Cup last season.
Yasser Larouci
An 18-year-old Algerian-born winger who can also play as a left-back, Larouci did well on Liverpool’s pre-season tour until an awful tackle by a Sevilla player injured him.
Adam Lewis
Steven Gerrard is a fan of his fellow Scouser, who has been on Liverpool’s books since he was in the Under-6s, Lewis was a midfielder, but has been converted into a left-back.
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Opening Rugby Championship fixtures:Games can be watched on OSN Sports
Saturday: Australia v New Zealand, Sydney, 1pm (UAE)
Sunday: South Africa v Argentina, Port Elizabeth, 11pm (UAE)
