People in war-torn societies have more to fear than bombs and militias. They also have to fear disruptions to everyday routines that many in the world take for granted. This usually involves upended food distribution systems--meaning stores and local producers run out of supplies, roads that carry goods become lined with risk, water systems get damaged or corrupted and a general freeze settles over the economy.

It can be hard to relate to this situation. I just strolled to an Israeli cafe in Manhattan to get a tuna sandwich. People in embattled cities rarely have that option.

For example, those in battle-heavy areas of Ukraine and Yemen are, instead, struggling to get their next meals. As World Vision has written, the international community tends to tune out wars that stretch on in far-off places, removing the sense of urgency that often kickstarts aid. Natural disasters command our attention and donations, but man-made wars tend to rage on out-of-sight.  

Plus, both countries are nests of conflicting geopolitical interests, which deters countries from getting involved. 

While the displaced are remarkably resilient, fashioning makeshift communities and scrabbling shared meals, there’s only so much they can do alone.

In eastern Ukraine where conflict has flared for more than a year, 500,000 people need food assistance through at least the end of 2015.

Ukrainians have come together through the crisis to build safe havens, provide for those in hard-hit areas, and transition local economies. In such times, people often resort to old systems of bartering and caring for others with no expectation of reimbursement--soup kitchens and places to rest proliferate.

Adding to the chaos, the country’s economy depends on fuel from its enemy, Russia, making the future precarious.  

In Yemen, which has descended into a chaotic civil war, those affected are more dispersed and have climbed into the millions. Refugees flee their homes, sometimes leaving their families and any semblance of stability behind. Others hunker down and hope for the best.

In the port city of Aden--the last hideout of ousted president Abd-Rabbu Mansour before fleeing to Riyadh--more than 1 million people need help staying nourished. With access to the sea largely blocked and bordering countries hundreds of miles away, civilians make the best of the few options they have.

Bakeries in Aden have been shutting down because of wheat and fuel shortages. For the same reasons that shops are shuttering, delivering food to the region has become no easy feat. Obstacles such as port congestion, poor security and failing infrastructure can prevent aid workers from getting food to where it needs to be.

A current example: 7 ships, carrying 3 million tons of food and fuel, have been held up for days off the coast of Yemen.

Funds also tend to fall short. The UN recently escalated its call for assistance, asking for an additional $103 million USD to address Yemen’s instability and $30.3 million USD for Ukraine.

In April, May and June, the UN delivered food to an average of 108,000 people in Aden, far below what is required.

So what happens if the full amount of aid reaches these countries? If those bakeries in Yemen receive the fuel, wheat and protection needed to operate and the West provides alternative fuel to Ukraine, people can begin to plan beyond the next few hours.

Hunger will no longer haunt each minute. They can resume some of the daily routines that mark peacetime and build communities such as educating children, rebuilding infrastructure and putting together a government, instead of spending all their energy worrying about sustenance.

But war devastates economies. Without outside aid, communities are threatened.

At particular risk are children under the age of 2, an age when adequate nutrition is needed to ensure normal growth. Malnourished infants experience psychological and physical stunting and an increased risk of disease.

Today, 6 million Yemeni children are at risk of experiencing severe hunger.

And it’s not just food that’s the problem. 2.6 million children under the age of 15 in Yemen are at risk of contracting measles, a contagious and potentially fatal disease. Another 2.5 million are at risk of diarrhoea due to contaminated water, poor sanitary conditions and an absence of oral rehydration salt.

As a global citizen, what can be done to make sure the vulnerable in Ukraine, Yemen and similar countries receive help?

The first step is staying informed so these wars do not fade from the public’s attention. Next, urge politicians to make financial commitments to organizations bravely providing assistance.

In Yemen, the Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia agreed to a pause in conflict beginning July 10 to allow for humanitarian relief.

If the UN receives its requested funding, countless harm can be avoided and the future of Ukraine and Yemen will be brightened.

Get involved and sign the petition to increase US funding for food security in TAKE ACTION NOW.

Editorial

Defeat Poverty

Bakeries not bunkers in Ukraine and Yemen

By Joe McCarthy