The Impact of the Civil War and Political Instability in Yemen on Post-2014 Human Development Indicators

Abstract

     The present study aims at identifying the effects of the civil war and political unrest in Yemen on human development indicators post-2014. The study follows both the historical and the descriptive analytical approaches. Most prominently, the study has found that the civil war and political instability that Yemen has been witnessing since late 2014 led to a decline not only in the value of human development indicator over the period 2015– 2019, but also to a decline in Yemen’s ranking in human development index. The most noteworthy effects are on public health: there have been increasing outbreaks of diseases, a resurgence of some epidemics, an increase in death rates, especially amongst children and mothers, lack of food security, an increase in the rates of malnutrition, and basic health services are not accessible to the general population. The effects of the civil war in Yemen could be also manifestly felt on education. The war has deprived a great number of citizens, especially children of access to education; children quickly become frustrated and lose interest in receiving education. There is a notable decline in educational services and quality level. The war doubled the problem of poverty as it increased inequality of incomes. No doubt, in the event these problems mentioned above continue. There will be a continued decline in the value of human development indicator and in other indicators as well.