*NEWS Spotlight* A rain check on Yemen & Afghanistan

The conflict in Ukraine has risen to the top of the international agenda, but we must not forget about other parts of the world. Where people are faced with continuous bloodshed, terror and hardship and desperately require international aid.

The country of Yemen, dealing with one of the world's most severe humanitarian disasters, is a prime example. The war has been going on for more than seven years. This January has set a new high for civilian casualties.

Due to the limited amounts of financing available, humanitarian organizations have little choice but to reduce support. Two-thirds of key UN aid programs formed to target the crises discussed above have already been cut or eliminated.

As well as this, the impact of the Ukraine crisis on rising food prices and exportation delays would worsen the already hellish conditions in Yemen.

Yemen is one of the nations most reliant on food imports from the region.

Our attention has shifted to Ukraine & Russia, however the desperation in Afghanistan has not changed, and the consequences are growing by the day...

It's been over six months since the Taliban take over in Kabul. Now, with the world shifting its attention to Ukraine, it has allowed the Taliban to control and abuse the civilians of Afghanistan without the mass public backlash they once would've had to consider.

This is severally detrimental for Afghans who may have to bear the force of the Taliban's previous hard-line policies, which can now resurface.

Despite the Taliban's promise to permit all girls to attend schools and receive an education, tens of thousands of girls aged over 12 were sent home on the first day of the school year.

This happened on March 22nd, articles tucked away behind those about Russia & Ukraine.

Some may argue that the neglect of humanitarian aid, to countries such as Afghanistan and Yemen, could be due to the urgency of the Ukraine crisis, and that many people feel compelled to worry about the next big disaster. Perhaps the only way to bring back care to these countries is by dealing with the Ukraine crisis first?

"This war goes far beyond Ukraine, It is also an assault on the world's most vulnerable people and countries."

- UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Guterres statement does a good job describing the points made above.I find it difficult to pick and choose which country is suffering more and to delegate which nation deserves more money and aid. However, I do believe that our leaders and people in power have an important responsibility to remind themselves, others, and those in turmoil, that there are many wars and conflicts, equal in severity and urgency, happening all around the world.

Noor Munawar