YEMEN CRISIS : THE STORY OF CONFLICT

PRESIDENT SALEH

The Houthis who started Shia insurgency in Yemen are actually Zaydi Muslims a subsect of Shia muslims constituting 2/5 th of the population. To say the that the present situation is just a Shia-Sunni rivalry is not right. Although the core of  Yemen crisis is Shia-Sunni rivalry but it is the proxy war's of Iran( Shia power) and Saudi Arabia (Sunni power) which has fueled the crisis. 

To understand the present situation it is necessary to peek into the past history of this impoverished country. There were two states north and south in the present day Yemen which existed till 1990's.The southern socialist state was formed at the end of 1960's and was officially called the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen. The civil war which ended in 1968, the Yemini Arab Republic came into existence. The power struggle continued between them for many coming years.

  

In 1990's both the states reached an agreement and formed the present day republic of Yemen. In 2011 Arab spring protest started in Sanna. Initially the protest were against unemployment, adverse economic situation and the proposed amendment to the Yemini constitution which allow president Saleh to remain in office for life. President Saleh was badly injured in rocket attack and suffered burns to 40% of his body and was flown to Saudi Arabia for treatment. When he returned he promised to hand over the power to his Deputy Adbrabbuh Mansour Hadi. Last year following the conclusion Hadi announced that Yemen will become Federation of six region. Houthis rejected the plan and blows up Yemen's largest oil pipeline and took over the reigns of the Capital Sanna.

HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN YEMEN ARE INCREASING

The coalition air strikes may prolong the struggle and will create the vacuum which will result in non state actress to fullfill their dreams. It is not a domestic or regional problem but is Global problem. International Community will have to do something before the string is out of hand. for countries like India to remain neutral is the best policy.