Scott Paul
@ScottTPaul
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Humanitarian policy @oxfamamerica and compulsive stirrer of onions. Usual caveats.
Washington, DC
Joined February 2012
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US is considering airdrops of aid into Gaza. My statement:
"Oxfam does not support US airdrops to Gaza, which would mostly serve to relieve the guilty consciences of senior US officials whose policies are contributing to the ongoing atrocities and risk of famine in Gaza.
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Instead of indiscriminate airdrops in Gaza, the US should cut the flow of weapons to Israel that are used in indiscriminate attacks...
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While Palestinians in Gaza have been pushed to the absolute brink, dropping a paltry, symbolic amount of aid into Gaza with no plan for its safe distribution would not help and be deeply degrading to Palestinians.
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...push for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages, and insist that Israel uphold its duty to provide humanitarian aid, access, and other basic services."
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Big
#Yemen
news today: President Biden pauses arms sales to Saudi Arabia and UAE. Important detail: this will cover "billions" in Trump admin sales. That means not just the recently announced, not yet licensed sales.
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As has been widely reported, Sec. Pompeo is moving to designate the Houthis in
#Yemen
as a terrorist organization. I can’t stress enough how damaging that decision would be – but I’m going to try.
THREAD
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Announcement of airdrops now seems to be coming soon. If they proceed, hopefully they will land in safe places, have needed items, and not exacerbate conflict.
But there are reasons to doubt. A thread the former head of USAID in the West Bank/Gaza:
🧵 Here’s a primer on air drops in Gaza.
But first, my bottom line up front: Air drops will not be effective in blunting the humanitarian crises in Gaza.
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The legal method for asylum-seekers to come into this country is to come into this country.
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No admission of error. No statement of regret. No promise to investigate. Just a chest-thumping affirmation that civilian lives in
#Yemen
don’t matter. This is what US fuel and bombs are supporting and what US diplomacy is shielding from accountability
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For those of you who haven't followed,
#Yemen
is facing one of the worst episodes of mass deaths and atrocities in a generation following Saudi Arabia’s closure of Yemen’s ports and borders this week. Here’s what you need to know 1/
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It'd be unusual for a President to cancel sales for which export licenses had been issued, but these were no ordinary sales. These were arms being used in conflict, in violation of laws of war, fueling famine and insecurity, with no political strategy in sight.
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To activists demanding that US stop fueling this awful war in
#Yemen
: thank you. It's made a huge difference. For a professional humanitarian advocate like me, it's so humbling to consider all the ppl working hand-in-hand for change- and who, unlike me, don't take a salary for it
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Ppl facing acute, conflict- & climate-induced hunger will be most affected by disruptions in the flow of Ukrainian grain. The deal needs to be back on & attacks must stop.
The long-term fix is to move away from a food system built around a few breadbaskets & mega agribusinesses.
“Especially with declining age budgets, these are not problems that aid can solve...when a major supply of wheat or corn or other grain is interrupted...that’s inevitably going to affect those who are most marginal in the global food system the hardest,” says
@ScottTPaul
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This would have massive humanitarian consequences.
The Biden admin lifted the designation last year - in spite of Houthi attacks - to spare Yemenis from even higher food, fuel, and healthcare prices. Also, it didn't create any useful leverage.
None of this has changed.
During this presser, Biden said his administration is considering re-designating the Houthi rebels in Yemen as a terrorist organization. Taking them off the list was one of his first actions in office.
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Congress put the administration - and arms dealers and buyers - on notice that many of these sales were not in US interests. Bipartisan majorities voted to block them.
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In pausing the delivery of these weapons, President Biden is setting himself up more thoroughly evaluate which sales serve US interests and which do not. The sale of arms that are being or could be used in
#Yemen
should be permanently stopped.
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I so appreciate
@ChrisMurphyCT
's ongoing dedication to Yemen - and making sure the interests of Yemenis in crisis, rather than those of powerful Gulf allies, are at the heart of US policy.
Tune in as
@OxfamAmerica
's
@ScottTPaul
,
@hrw
's
@Afrahnasser
, and I discuss the humanitarian crisis in Yemen – and why re-designating the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization would set things back.
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On my way home from Yemen with one, clear message: to save lives, stop fueling the war. Congress needs to do that now.
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Reaction to announcement of US-supported airdrops:
As Palestinians face the risk of famine, any aid is better than no aid.
But more airdrops in Gaza could also put people in greater danger - chaos & violence are more likely as basic goods run out & social order breaks down after enduring months of violence and hunger.
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#Yemen
is complex and there aren’t good guys and bad guys. If you know one thing, know this:
Yemenis are of dying from starvation & stone-age diseases, and the supplies to save them are being kept just offshore by a US-supported Saudi Arabia-led coalition
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Just out from
@StateDept_NEA
: the Houthis must cease assault on Marib. My colleagues recently did an assessment there. More details & analysis to come soon, but the bottom line is this is so, so important.
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Career highlight. Pillow would have given away I work on a couch, but…I think the secret is out
Couch view/shelf setup. Books. Rock Creek Park art is a point. Add a pillow. 9/10
@ScottTPaul
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President Biden is moving to center Yemenis in US Yemen policy. We've waited nearly six years for this. Now it's time for Yemeni voices to be heard.
END
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Today,
@oxfamamerica
and
@hrw
sent a memorandum calling into question Israel’s assurances under National Security Memorandum 20 (NSM-20) and calling for a suspension of lethal arms transfers. A short thread on what this is about.
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USAID memo confirms what we've been saying: Israel is blocking critical aid & now famine is inevitable. Allowing aid is a condition for getting US arms & mil support. Instead of pausing arms transfers, Biden admin is playing politics with people's lives
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Nowhere near good enough for
#Yemen
,
@SecBlinken
. There's no other way to say it: the Biden administration is failing Yemenis right now.
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Spoke with
@FaisalbinFarhan
today to reiterate our commitment to bolster the defense capabilities of Saudi Arabia and Gulf partners while mitigating civilian harm.
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Today the US Senate voted to end US involvement in the
#Yemen
war & the parties agreed to de-escalate. It’s not a coincidence. Thank you to 56 senators who stood up for millions on the verge of starvation today, esp
@SenSanders
,
@SenMikeLee
,
@ChrisMurphyCT
, &
@SenToddYoung
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Only by inventing a fake emergency did the administration even put them in front of Congress in the first place.
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These arms have been serially misused in attacks that have directly killed and injured huge numbers of civilians and indirectly fueled crisis by eviscerating Yemen's critical civilian infrastructure. This has contributed to Yemen's economic and social service collapse.
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What have we learned this week? This admin may set limits on US mil assistance- which is good- but they will be set ad hoc by the president. Firm legal requirements to respect IHL & not block aid are being swatted away by a president who campaigned on restoring the rule of law.
New: Secretary of State Blinken is expected to submit to Congress as soon as Friday a highly critical report about Israel's conduct in Gaza that stops short of concluding it has violated the terms for its use of U.S. weapons. My story on
@axios
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US broadcast media: if you're looking to cover the US role in
#Yemen
today (and you should be), there are a ton of brilliant women you could invite to discuss. Consider
@abbymaxman
,
@KatieZimmerman
,
@Ndawsari
,
@CatanzanoAmanda
,
@samboosa_a
,
@KateKizer
,
@K8Gould
, the list goes on
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Biden now says no weapons for Rafah invasion. Long overdue, but the US is finally using weapons as leverage to stop atrocities in Gaza. Palestinians already face violence, displacement + starvation; the admin must use its power for a ceasefire, the return of hostages + aid access
Today the Biden admin misses its self-imposed deadline to report to Congress on the assurances of 8 countries, incl Israel, that they will not obstruct aid or violate international humanitarian law. Arms transfers & mil aid hang in the balance.
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For every
#Saleh
and other leader whose death makes the headlines there are thousands of people, mostly kids, dying silent deaths in
#Yemen
#ceasefire
#endtheblockade
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If pausing arms transfers is step 1 and canceling sales that touch
#Yemen
is step 2, then canceling the terrorism designation of Ansar Allah is step 3 and restoring full funding for the humanitarian response is step 4.
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In case you can't be bothered to read a two-sentence tweet: the most harmful aspects of the Saudi blockade of
#Yemen
are still in place and will kill millions in the largest famine in decades even following today's announcement.
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Thank you
@ChrisMurphyCT
@SenToddYoung
@SenatorShaheen
@JerryMoran
for your support for the humanitarian response in
#Yemen
.
The US should increase its contribution- with as much as possible going directly to frontline responders & especially Yemeni orgs
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Bad news: Senate allows arms sales to UAE, which has misused & diverted them in
#Yemen
Good news: all but 2 Dems voted to block. Clear that Dems want Pres.-Elect Biden to keep his promise to stop these arms transfers that fuel the war & undermine accountability for human rights
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I work for an organization that fights the injustice of poverty and adheres to the humanitarian imperative & humanitarian principles. We’re proudly supporting the National Security Powers Act introduced today by
@ChrisMurphyCT
@SenMikeLee
@SenSanders
.
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9 yrs ago, the US aided a Saudi-led intervention in
#Yemen
. Rather than focus on Yemenis, the US pursued a policy aimed at appeasing its partners in the region, expecting to shape their behavior & hoping they'd exercise restraint & good judgment.
Few lessons have been learned.
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Please take 7 minutes to learn about the crisis in Yemen & the shameful suspension of US humanitarian aid. Then call USAID, your Member of Congress, your local paper, your school board, your zoning commissioner, and any public official who will listen to register your outrage
What happens to a country on the brink of starvation when aid dries up during a global pandemic? CNN's
@nimaelbagir
reports on the crisis in Yemen.
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But a terrorism designation is not an instrument of justice or accountability. It is a political tool with financial and reputational repercussions for the designee and far-reaching consequences for others, particularly people in poverty
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Thank you
@tedlieu
,
@RepVisclosky
, &
@RepEliotEngel
for standing against the Trump administration’s fake emergency to bypass Congress for its
#Yemen
arms sales
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New
@ChrisMurphyCT
statement on
#Yemen
war.
US policymakers & news outlets sometimes treat foreign casualties as 'events' while accepting Yemeni deaths as part of humdrum normality of life in conflict.
Thank you,
@ChrisMurphyCT
, for seeing Yemenis too
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Early in the war in
#Yemen
, when it was considered imprudent to question arms sales, humanitarian/rights advocates encountered a lot of closed doors.
@KateKizer
was one of those who pounded on doors like she knew the difference between right and wrong and wasn't afraid to say so
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Today
@Reuters
is reporting that Saudi Arabia is set to drop most restrictions on imports through Aden as part of ongoing peace talks. If it comes to fruition, this is cause for celebration.
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Today the House votes on a bill that would push millions of Yemenis deeper into crisis. While the bill is called the Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act, it does little to punish the Houthis & instead would hurt the most vulnerable Yemenis.
Here's why:
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Thanks
@keithellison
@tomemmer
@SenSherrodBrown
for getting a pilot to help Somali-American remittance companies off the ground!
#Champions
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Storming the Capitol to disrupt the peaceful transition of power without fear of death or serious injury is the best demonstration of white privilege I could ever imagine
Whoa: Trump supporters going at it with the police on the steps of the Capitol as Congress counts the Electoral College ballots inside
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But these steps are a prerequisite for that strategy, because no real, credible US strategy to achieve peace in
#Yemen
is possible as long as unconditional and unlimited support for Gulf allies is the central feature of US policy.
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The final analysis boils down to whether it’s worth sparking the largest famine in recent decades in order to engage in high-profile name-calling. There is a correct answer to that question.
END
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Importantly, neither these steps, nor further steps to hold KSA and UAE accountable, comprise a strategy. An actual strategy will hold ALL parties accountable for violations and empower women, youth, and other civil society leaders in an inclusive peace process.
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THREAD
Today
@justsecurity
, a deep dive into the warped humanitarian justifications for USAID’s suspension of aid in the world’s largest humanitarian crisis (
#Yemen
) amidst a terrifying pandemic 1/
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Airdrops are as a measure of last resort, to be explored only when all other avenues have failed. Yet the US is turning to airdrops before using its vast leverage to push Israel to fulfill its basic duties, to allow for the safe, tested, and scalable approaches available.
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Thank you
@Grace4NY
@RitchieTorres
. It hurts to think of all the families that planned a future in the US, sold assets, closed businesses, said tearful goodbyes...only for their visas to be cruelly withheld. They need not remain in limbo. The full House & Senate must pass this.
Just passed my amendment in committee to allow thousands of expired visas to be made available to those who were denied or refused admission bc of previous Muslim ban. It’s time for US to uphold promise we made and right the wrongs created by discriminatory ban.
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Today
@OxfamAmerica
joined
@amnestyusa
,
@Avaaz
,
@demandprogress
,
@FCNL
, &
@MoveOn
to deliver nearly 1 million petition signatures demanding a permanent
#ceasefireNow
.
We need an end to the siege of Gaza, full humanitarian access, and the safe return of hostages to Israel.
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Yemen was already the world’s largest humanitarian crisis – 7M one step from famine and roughly 900k suspected cases of cholera, the largest and fastest outbreak in recorded history 2/
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Re-upping this in light of today’s reports. I’m every bit as scared for Yemenis today as I was when I wrote this. Pres.-Elect Biden needs to revoke these designations on Jan 20 because
#YemenCantWait
As has been widely reported, Sec. Pompeo is moving to designate the Houthis in
#Yemen
as a terrorist organization. I can’t stress enough how damaging that decision would be – but I’m going to try.
THREAD
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Long overdue. An important signal that US is serious about a political settlement to the conflict centered on the interests of Yemenis rather than those of regional powers.
NSA Jake Sullivan: Biden will today announce an end to american support for offensive operations in Yemen
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The war in
#Yemen
is causing the biggest hunger emergency in a generation. Nearly the whole world wants it to end.
Yet the US and UK have effectively lent their Security Council seats to one of the warring parties that wants to keep on fighting.
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If the Biden admin transfers cluster munitions to Ukraine, it will condemns Ukrainian civilians to death and injury today and in the future. Children, most of all, will pay the price for years to come.
🧵
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@Oxfam
To sum up, if nothing changes, millions will be at risk in
#Yemen
, and hundreds of thousands will die very quickly. In the next few weeks, we’ll either come together to turn this around or live to regret yet another failure of our
#neveragain
promise 14/14
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Today, as I leave Sana’a, the US House votes on H.J.Res. 37 to end US support for the Saudi-led coalition in
#Yemen
.
Every single Yemeni I’ve spoken to over the past three years has asked me to pass along the same message to decision-makers: end the war. 1/2
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This account will be pretty quiet till mid-November. I’m on leave from Oxfam to support voter protection in MI.
#Vote2020
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First, let’s say one thing plainly: the Houthis, like all parties in Yemen, have committed absolutely despicable acts. The victims and survivors of this conflict, including of the Houthis, deserve justice.
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Respectfully, the problem with these takes (& the angry replies) is they make war criminals out to be ghoulish, inhuman figures. Nope. They’re often regular folks who lose perspective on humanity in pursuit of what they feel are noble ideals. And they should be held accountable.
I was a career FSO and later Obama appointee, Elliott Abrams was a kind, thoughtful, non partisan mentor. Let's try to see the best - rather than the worst - in people.
@IlhanMN
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Ramadan Kareem. All detainees should be treated humanely and arbitrarily detained prisoners should be released.
The seventh Ramadan is here while our abducted, detained, and forcibly disappeared sons are still held behind bars. Our living conditions have worsened and our tears cannot be stopped for any joy is not felt without our sons’ presence.
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This is taking place just as Yemen is entering a new, dangerous period of food insecurity. Via
@missyryan
and
@johnhudson
, more than 47,000 additional people will be in famine-like conditions early next year – before a designation is taken into account 10/
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If you're not an original co-sponsor of this measure when it drops, don't bother asking for my support in the future
The law is clear. The
#MuslimBan
is illegal. I will introduce a bill this week to immediately overturn this dangerous, hateful order.
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Congress just took a BIG step by linking Saudi/UAE conduct in
#Yemen
to US involvement in the
#YemenCrisis
. Yesterday, the Young-Shaheen provision was included in the
#NDAA
, meaning it will almost definitely become law. [AE1] Here’s some background on what this means. THREAD: /1
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We constructed this blockade next to the Capitol to underscore ongoing US support for a blockade that is causing what will soon become the largest famine and public health crisis in a generation. Come for the visuals, stay to talk to me and others about US
#Yemen
policy. 12-2pm
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Yesterday
@nytimes
broke the news that the Biden administration is preparing to lift its suspension of offensive arms sales to Saudi Arabia. A few thoughts on why this would be shortsighted and wrong:
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In boldly standing up to the Houthis, the Saudi/Emirati coalition, and all their international backers,
@RAlmutawakel
speaks for all Yemenis fighting for their rights and demanding peace. She richly deserves her place in the
#TIME100
just as Yemenis deserve to be seen & heard
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US government (State/AID): we’re suspending aid to the world’s largest crisis (
#Yemen
) bc there’s a high risk of diversion. Same USG (DOD) oh we didn’t even bother to follow up about the $1 BILLION that one side of the conflict owes us for refueling
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Today the Trump Administration’s reckless, pointless, heartless terrorism designations of Ansar Allah go into effect. A brief summary of what’s happened already, what happens today, and what comes next.
THREAD
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Over the last six months, Israel has routinely obstructed US-funded humanitarian aid. This is not only a violation of int'l law, but also US law: Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act. Here's an explainer courtesy of
@OxfamAmerica
&
@CivCenter
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THREAD
#Yemen
parts of new bill by
@SenatorMenendez
@SenToddYoung
@SenJackReed
@LindseyGrahamSC
@JeanneShaheen
&
@SenatorCollins
are right on. After nearly 4 yrs of US involvement in war, a sr bipartisan group is ready to stand up for peace and relief
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(it’s worth noting that in 2011, the USG’s failure to promptly issue licenses for humanitarian assistance substantially contributed to a famine that killed more than a quarter of a million Somalis) 9/
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What’s more, as
@petersalisbury
explains, a designation wouldn’t actually result in advancing any US goals with the Houthis (unless you count making nice to Gulf partners and boxing in a future administration)
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Prices of food and fuel skyrocketed within hours of the closures. In some governorates, fuel has already run out. Hospitals and water pumps are shutting down. Disease will spread like wildfire, hitting babies and pregnant women first 6/
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“This sale will be seen as a ringing endorsement of ongoing military activity at a time when all US efforts should be focused on bringing an end to the violence.”-
@noahgo
@OxfamAmerica
calls on President Biden to halt Israel arms sale.
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I'm going to explain in a few tweets why, other than the fact that it hasn't happened in the past three months, I fundamentally don't believe waivers are going to allow for humanitarian aid in
#Yemen
1/
In the announcement, Pompeo says
@StateDept
has expressed “readiness” to address consequences to aid and Treasury “is prepared to” issue licenses. They’ve had since November to work it out and still haven’t. That should tell you how easy it is to do.
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As Palestinians face the risk of famine, any aid is better than no aid.
But more airdrops in Gaza could also put people in greater danger - chaos & violence are more likely as basic goods run out & social order breaks down after enduring months of violence and hunger.
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It's stunning how many opinion pieces this week have casually- & wrongly- argued that the humanitarian fallout of a terrorism designation in
#Yemen
can be contained.
If you're writing on this topic, learn more first. DMs are open. But please don't spread deadly misinformation.
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Key in the Biden
#Yemen
announcement is explicit reference not only to the UN peace process but to a *ceasefire* - in the past that's been viewed as a concession to one side or another. Here it's being laid out as a public good.
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Never mind that the UN,
@Oxfam
, and the entire humanitarian community are warning that “It will be the largest famine the world has seen for many decades” 13/
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Yemenis can't afford higher prices - they're living in a collapsed economy, have exhausted their coping mechanisms, savings, and credit. Higher prices means death. 9/
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In
#Yemen
, those consequences depend on the mechanism for designation & licenses (exceptions) that are issued. ANY designation of Houthis will deal a blow to an economy whose collapse has already killed tens or hundreds of thousands
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@ErikSperling
@Ndawsari
Erik, Nadwa opposed the designations on humanitarian grounds and also opposed revoking them unilaterally. It’s not a position I agreed with, but your casual, disrespectful, reductive dismissal of a thoughtful Yemeni scholar on Yemeni affairs doesn’t serve you well.
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The US government needs to call off plans to designate the Houthis as a group. If they don’t, the best-case scenario is that they’re listed by Treasury, meaning they’d be subject to sanctions
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But the int’l community, which has the leverage to turn things around and save hundreds of thousands of lives, has been all but silent. The US has said next to nothing. Everyone’s most concerned about demonstrating solidarity with Riyadh 11/
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