We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
THE UNITED NATIONS warned today that fuel supplies needed to run Yemen’s hospital generators and pump clean water will run out in less than three weeks unless the Saudi-led coalition lifts its blockade.
The dire forecast came as Yemen battles one of the world’s worst outbreaks of cholera, with nearly one million people infected. Some 2,200 people have died.
Adding to the woes of aid workers on the ground, stocks of diphtheria vaccines will be emptied in two weeks unless aid deliveries are once again allowed in the country, UN spokesman Farhan Haq said.
The Saudi-led military coalition shut down Yemen’s sea and air ports as well as borders on 6 November in response to a missile attack by the Iran-backed Huthi rebels near Riyadh.
UN aid chief Mark Lowcock warned last week that unless the blockade was lifted, Yemen will face “the largest famine the world has seen for many decades, with millions of victims.”
A week after hearing that dire warning, the UN Security Council appeared powerless to push the Saudi-led coalition to lift its blockade of humanitarian aid.
“There are still huge problems and there has not been any progress on the… open humanitarian access through the ports of Hodeida and airport of Sanaa,” both held by the rebels, said Olof Skoog, the Swedish ambassador to the United Nations.
Sweden, a non-permanent council member, called for a council meeting last week on the crisis, but Skoog did not indicate whether he will seek another meeting on the aid blockade.
“We are concerned that not enough has happened,” he said. “We’ll see what the next step will be on that.”
The United Nations has listed Yemen as the world’s number one humanitarian crisis, with 17 million people in need of food, seven million of whom are at risk of famine.
Last week, Egypt, a non-permanent council member close to Saudi Arabia, circulated a draft statement that condemned the missile attack on Riyadh but made no mention of the aid blockade.
Diplomats criticised the proposed statement as lacking balance and said they did not expect it to be endorsed by the council.
UN aid officials meanwhile have stepped up their appeals.
“The humanitarian impact of what is happening here right now is unimaginable,” said the UN’s aid coordinator in Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick, this week.
The World Food Programme has warned that current stocks of rice will run out in 111 days and wheat in 97 days, while the prices of basic goods have skyrocketed.
Saudi Arabia and its allies intervened in Yemen in March 2015 to push back the Iran-backed Huthi rebels who control the capital Sanaa, and restore the government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi to power.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Profit,Profit and even more profit and on the other side……..Austerity, withdrawal of services,”restructuring” water tax etc. Anybody else see that Laissez-faire does not work for anybody except for the multinationals. The filter down policies are a fantasy, wealth and money is traveling only in one direction!
Maybe if people were more concerned with making profit than sitting on the dole we wouldn’t have so many people whining about austerity.
Austerity is hitting everybody especially those who are honest taxpayers who are hit even harder than those who are unfortunate enough to have to depend on the state for survival.
Get off the dole and do a bit of work then Fantastic!
So whats your answer to the problem you describe,god forbid we should inovate and build up our own multinational companies instead of relying on tax breaks to entice other countries talent to create jobs and employment here,but that would take dedication hard work and a belief in our own ability, are we up for it,highly unlikely judging by the rush for exits when the going gets tough.
I can read this article and appreciate it for all that it is, but President Higgins’ address last week in Chicago in which he stated that ” society needs to measure prosperity” by differing methods strikes more resonance with me.
What’s that thing they have in Bhutan (I think?) they have a “happiness index” or some such?
Budget cuts for 2013 : 4 Billion Euro
Cost to the exchequer of 12.5% corporation tax NOT being enforced: 4 Billion Euro
Do the math.
It would be interesting to see what % corporation tax each of the 10 paid on their profits.
Ireland inc. the best little country in the world to do business. Slave labour aplenty and taxes are only for the little people. We’ll send any amount of people to the poorhouse to protect your profits. Rob us blind, but don’t forget your TV licence or your billionaire ass is going to jail.
Hear hear……… tell it straight Jammin
Why not make it 25% and make a few quid
The majority of top companies are….not Irish. Neo liberal agenda in full swing. Ireland like a third world country being drained by multinationals.
So much for entrepreneur culture here. A complete myth
Those “not Irish” companies employee a hell of allot of full blooded Irish people, who spend their hard earned money on Irish food and products, putting meals on Irish plates and clothes on Irish peoples backs, whilst also keeping people off the Irish doll queues!
To build an entrepreneur culture, you need to have allot of entrepreneurs, all with great ideas which can be developed into something enormous, otherwise it wont make even a dent in the Irish economy.
Comparing Ireland to a third world country is ridiculously idiotic, to put it mildly!
You mean businesses employ and pay people? We know that. A bit of an idiotic comment if you don’t mind me saying. Maybe you might like to take a look at the real issues here?
How are Ryanair not included?
Or Intel?
Because they don’t really employ anyone in Ireland. Very few staff, all the rest are “contractors” employed by outside agencies. Really, as a company Ryan Air contribute very little to the Irish economy.
I assume you are joking @Larry. how many tens of millions of people do Ryanair bring here every year. Im sure their Vat bill alone is huge.
How does CRH manage to stay at the top? Their IT department is a joke. My bf worked there for a year, worst job he ever had (same for a friend who worked in their accounting dept).
They make loads of money, thats why they’re there.
Dell is in the top 10? An awful kip of a place to work. Soul destroying, global multinational, bureaucratic hell hole
What about Ryanair ? They would have got my vote and they are Irish too !
Got a shock when I read this story. First thing I saw was the add banner for labour and I thought to myself
“Jaysus Gilmore must be a great fella to work for”
Didn’t see Irish startup EnergyElephant on the list there…
It’s gearing up competition against Nest which was recently acquired by Google for $3.2 Billion.
have your say