Where is outrage over the crisis in Yemen?

Do you believe that the media coverage on the war in Yemen has been sufficient? Do you believe Americans even know we are at war in Yemen?

In war-torn Yemen, 7 million people are at the brink of famine. The UN has declared Yemen the world's largest humanitarian crisis. Humanitarian organizations report that a Yemeni child dies every 10 minutes from a preventable cause.

The crisis in Yemen came to a head in 2015 when an uprising overtook the capital of Sana'a. The Saudi government began launching attacks later in 2015 in support of the Yemeni government. Many civilians have been killed. The Saudi air raids are responsible for thousands of these civilian deaths, including many children.

Although the U.S. military has been in Yemen for years, it is our support for Saudi Arabia which has escalated the violence. U.S. support for the war in Yemen includes fueling Saudi jets, selling weapons in the amounts of billions of dollars and tactical military training.

As Americans, we should be concerned about our government's role in a war which has resulted in the killing of civilians and creation of the world's largest famine. Although some prominent officials have spoken out against the war, too many elected officials either support the war or are silent on the issue.

So I wonder, do Americans understand that our government is complicit in the deaths of innocent children? Where are the anti-war activists? Where is the outrage?

It is time that the media steps up and provides responsible coverage on the war in Yemen. It is also time for Congress to take back their constitutional responsibility to declare war. I believe this is only way that we as an American people can appropriately debate the use of foreign military force.

Tanya Singh

Mundelein