The city of Marib (northeastern Yemen) hosted a forum on Thursday titled "Yemeni Women: Leaders in the Face of Humanitarian Crises and Peacebuilding." The event, organized by the Women's Organizations Forum in collaboration with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), coincided with World Humanitarian Day, celebrated annually on August 19.

The forum highlighted the plight of Yemeni women amidst the country's devastating conflict. Marib Deputy Governor Dr. Abdur-Rabi Muftah emphasized the need to address the suffering endured by Yemeni women due to the ongoing crisis and the decline of humanitarian organizations' support for them.

Muftah urged participants to explore effective ways to alleviate the suffering of women and children, particularly by bolstering the role of women in humanitarian work and supporting female leaders who have proven their competence and capabilities.

He pointed out that Marib has absorbed over 62% of Yemen's displaced population and continues to receive new arrivals. The city faces a humanitarian crisis that is spiraling into a catastrophe as the war waged by the Houthi militia, backed by Iran, against the Yemeni people, enters its 11th year. The gap between essential needs and the ability to meet them is widening, exacerbated by the dwindling role of international humanitarian organizations.

Muftah highlighted the increasing number of families falling below the poverty line daily, unable to meet their basic needs. He stressed the importance of supporting women leaders who have demonstrated success in humanitarian work.

He also addressed the violations faced by international organizations and their staff in areas controlled by the Houthi group, particularly women, amidst international and UN silence. These violations, he argued, further deepen the humanitarian crisis, a crisis that the international community only seems to care about during the liberation of Hodeidah, where they halted the operation in its final stage.

Muftah assured the forum of the local authority's support for all humanitarian partners, initiatives, programs, and activities aimed at alleviating the suffering of both displaced people and host communities. He pledged to provide all necessary facilities, emphasizing the need for international organizations to relocate their headquarters from Sana'a to the temporary capital, Aden.

He argued that their continued presence in Sana'a after recent violations "distorts their work and independence, making them an extension of the militia to carry out their agenda in liberated governorates."

OCHA's Humanitarian Coordinator in Marib, Rashed Al-Dab'i, presented the successes achieved by organizations in various humanitarian fields to alleviate the suffering of displaced people and host communities. He considered World Humanitarian Day an opportunity to recognize the role of women in humanitarian work and address the challenges they face.

Fatima Silan, Secretary-General of the Women's Organizations Forum, called on relevant authorities and international organizations to stand with the forum, led by women, and support women who have lost their families and are shouldering the burden of their households alone.

She urged the provision of basic needs for women, including security, protection, health and education services, and adequate shelter that ensures privacy and a dignified life. She also advocated for supporting women through sustainable development projects, recovery initiatives, and capacity building for women's organizations to overcome the challenges they face.

The forum included three working papers and was enriched by discussions, opinions, and recommendations from participants, including representatives of international, regional, and local organizations, local authorities, and women leaders. These contributions aim to strengthen the role of women leaders in humanitarian work and peacebuilding.