Bishop Paolo Martinelli, the Apostolic Vicar of Southern Arabia, has voiced his concerns about the escalating conflict in Yemen, warning of the devastating consequences for civilians if the situation worsens. The conflict has already claimed over 100 lives in recent airstrikes, and the Bishop fears that a large-scale conflict would inflict immense suffering on the Yemeni people, who have already endured ten years of civil war.
The civil war, which began in 2014 when Houthi rebels seized the capital Sana’a, has triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. An estimated 400,000 people have died, and millions more have been displaced, struggling with extreme hunger, poverty, and disease.
Bishop Martinelli emphasized that the weakest groups, particularly children, are paying the highest price. Over three million internally displaced Yemeni children face extreme poverty, hunger, and the threat of spreading epidemics, including cholera.
The Bishop’s concerns are compounded by US President Trump’s decision to declare the Houthi rebels “terrorists,” which raises questions about the implications for North Yemen. Despite a truce between government and rebel forces, Bishop Martinelli warned that an open and large-scale conflict would be “a cause of deep pain” for civilians.