Apathy or Anticipation? How Yemenis View the 2024 US Election Amid Crisis
For the people of Yemen, the 2024 US election holds little promise for relief. With Yemen enduring one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, many Yemenis feel overlooked by both Biden and Trump. The situation in Yemen is marked by conflict, famine, and a lack of basic necessities. Although the US has historically been involved in Yemen’s conflict through arms sales to Saudi Arabia, Yemenis have seen little change in policy with Biden, even after he initially promised to end support for the Saudi-led coalition.
Despite Biden’s early commitments, his administration has largely continued arms sales, leaving many Yemenis skeptical of American leadership. Activists and civilians alike voice frustration, feeling that the US prioritizes economic and political alliances over human lives. For people like Ahmed Qassem, a Yemeni doctor in Sanaa, Biden’s promises seem hollow. Yemenis hope for an end to the violence, but they fear the US election will bring more of the same: strategic partnerships with regional powers that deepen Yemen’s suffering.
The possibility of Trump’s return brings little hope to Yemenis either. Trump’s previous administration was seen as openly supportive of Saudi Arabia’s role in the conflict, with substantial arms sales that intensified the fighting. Yemenis remember how Trump’s policies left them feeling abandoned, with airstrikes and blockades making daily survival a struggle. For civilians like Amal Saif, the memories of Trump’s support for Saudi Arabia’s campaign remain vivid, filling her with anxiety over the potential election results.
Living in conditions that few Americans could imagine, Yemenis face a constant battle to find food, water, and medical care. Many see the US election as a distant event that may never address their urgent needs. They fear that, regardless of who wins, the US will continue to prioritize alliances with wealthier nations over humanitarian aid to Yemen. This sense of abandonment leaves Yemenis with little optimism, as they brace for what they see as a likely continuation of American indifference.
Despite this apathy, some Yemenis still express a faint hope that American citizens might push for change. Activists urge US voters to recognize Yemen’s plight and hold their leaders accountable for foreign policy decisions. However, with limited power to affect the election’s outcome, Yemenis remain in a position of passive observation, anxiously awaiting the result. For many, the American election symbolizes a political cycle that values strategic alliances over the lives of those suffering in conflict zones.
In the end, Yemenis see little choice between Biden and Trump. To them, both candidates appear focused on maintaining regional alliances that have worsened Yemen’s crisis. As they watch from afar, Yemenis hope that one day the US will prioritize peace and humanitarian support over geopolitical strategies. Until then, they wait in silence, their voices unheard amid the world’s most pressing humanitarian crisis.
