By Cat April Watters

At 43rd Street and 1st Ave starting around 10:30 am demonstrators showed up at the United Nations to protest the United States’ involvement and supporting Saudi Arabia in creating a humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

According to Mercy Corps, children and families in Yemen are facing the threat of starvation. More than 2 million children are malnourished, and more than 7 million people are on the brink of famine. The U.N. recently warned that the escalating crisis in Yemen could lead to “the largest famine the world has seen for many decades, with millions of victims.”

According to Aljazeera, "humanitarian aid agencies are calling on Saudi Arabia to completely lift its air, sea and land blockade of Yemen. They are warning millions are at risk as aid supplies are blocked from getting into the country. Yemen is also in the middle of a devastating cholera outbreak that has killed at least 2,000 people since April. Saudi Arabia now says it is opening some of the ports but workers at Hudaida port – the main entry point for relief supplies – say it remains shut."

Photo: Cat Watters

Demonstrators displaying photos of children malnourished and dehydrating from the cholera outbreak due to the blockade by Saudi Arabia preventing much needed medical supplies and food to enter Yemen. Photo: Cat Watters

Outside the UN Plaza at 45th street and 1st avenue today demonstrators blocked the entrance as part of non-violent, civil disobedience to United States support of Saudi Arabia and it’s genocide of a poor and defenseless population. 15 demonstrators were arrested. Photo: Cat Watters

Elderly demonstrators being arrested outside the UN Plaza today to resist the United States’ support of Saudi Arabia’s genocide of the people and children in Yemen. Photo: Cat Watters

Photo: Cat Watters