Congress is hammering out its next coronavirus relief bill, and anti-war activists and humanitarian organizations want lawmakers to include funding to help Yemen cope with the COVID-19 pandemic in the face of the Donald Trump administration’s recent aid restrictions on the Houthi rebels and the World Health Organization (WHO). The push from Yemen advocates comes as a group of skeptical senators pressed the Trump administration for answers over its new Yemen aid policy Tuesday. 

The Friends Committee on National Legislation, the Yemen Relief and Reconstruction Foundation and the Yemeni Alliance Committee are preparing a letter to key congressional leaders that they hope will form the opening salvo in the new push to include Yemen in Congress’ next coronavirus stimulus package.

“It is unconscionable for the United States to cut off humanitarian aid to Yemen in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic — especially after supporting the bombing of Yemeni hospitals,” said Hassan El-Tayyab, the legislative manager for Middle East Policy at the Friends Committee on National Legislation. “Regardless of Houthi activity, a global pandemic is not the time for a blanket suspension of aid to Yemen. Congress has the power to take immediate action and it’s clear that Yemen can’t wait any longer as it teeters on the edge of catastrophe.” 

The letter, seen by Al-Monitor, is addressed to the top Democrats and Republicans on the foreign affairs, appropriations and oversight committees in both chambers. It calls on Congress “to do everything in its power to ensure that all congressionally appropriated USAID funding be released” while highlighting the need for “emergency medical assistance” in Yemen.