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For Immediate Release
January, 10 2021, 11:00pm EDT
Contact:
Sarah Sheffer, ssheffer@refugeesinternational.org, 1 202 540 7029.
Trump Admin's Terrorist Designation of Houthis in Yemen 'Reckless and Destructive'
WASHINGTON
The below statement is from Refugees International's Vice President for Programs and Policy Hardin Lang:
"The Trump administration's decision to designate the Houthi movement in Yemen as a Foreign Terrorist Organization is both reckless and destructive.
Coming just days before Trump leaves office, the designation will complicate diplomatic efforts to end the war in Yemen and will disrupt relief efforts for the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Particularly alarming are reports that Secretary Pompeo is moving forward before finalizing waives and licenses that would allow humanitarian aid to continue to flow. If true, it is difficult to imagine a more irresponsible decision.
The litmus test for U.S. policy on Yemen is simple: does it help end the conflict, or keep alive the millions of suffering Yemenis? The designation fails on both counts.
President-elect Biden and his team will need to move quickly to roll back this decision. The people of Yemen have endured enough. Ending their suffering must start on day one."
For more information, read "Six Reasons Why a Terrorist Designation for Yemen's Houthis is a Bad Idea," by Eric P. Schwartz and Hardin Lang: https://www.justsecurity.org/73677/six-reasons-why-a-terrorist-designation-for-yemens-houthis-is-a-bad-idea/
To arrange an interview, contact Refugees International Director of Communications Sarah Sheffer at ssheffer@refugeesinternational.org or +1 202 540 7029.
Refugees International is a Washington, D.C.-based organization that advocates to end refugee crises, advocates for lifesaving assistance and protection for displaced people, and promotes solutions to displacement crises.
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