New IRC/YouGov poll: As pressure mounts for Yemen ceasefire, US opinion united: end support to the war

New York, NY, November 25, 2018 —  Americans united: no more arms to the Coalition

As hostilities in Yemen’s critical port city of critical port city of Hodeidah escalate despite growing calls for a ceasefire from the international community, a YouGov survey* commissioned by the IRC reveals the majority of Americans (75%) who expressed an opinion** are opposed to US weapons sales to Saudi Arabia and the UAE, united in their desire to end US support to fueling conflict and humanitarian catastrophe.

Clear bipartisan consensus to end military support to the conflict

The YouGov survey results reveal a clear bipartisan consensus on ending US military support, with 89% of liberals surveyed and 54% of conservatives who expressed an opinion opposing continued arms sales to the Coalition to be used in the conflict.

Survey respondents who expressed an opinion were also in strong agreement (82%) that Congress should vote to decrease (25%) or end (57%) missile sales to Saudi Arabia completely. This call for a withdrawal of support to the Saudi and Emirati-led Coalition was also echoed by both sides of the aisle, with 98% of liberals and 63% of conservatives in agreement. Over half the respondents stating an opinion (56%) also agreed that the US’ involvement in Yemen does not advance American national interests.

Majority unaware of US involvement in the Saudi and Emirati war effort

58% of respondents stated they did not know about the US government sold weapons and provides military and intelligence support to the Coalition, and 64% of respondents reported they did not know that the Saudi and Emirati-led coalition was striking civilian targets, including a school bus containing 40 children in August.

Said David Miliband, President and CEO of the IRC:

“Americans of all political stripes reject the US policy of fueling the war in Yemen. They agree that by continuing to provide military and diplomatic support for one side of the conflict, the US is fueling a crisis that has severe consequences for millions of civilians. 14 million people are on the brink of starvation. Yemenis deserve an end to this morally and strategically bankrupt war. The IRC’s 800 staff working in the North and South of the country are all too familiar with their unimaginable suffering.

The people of Yemen urgently need an end to the fighting - for humanitarian aid to flow, for the economy to revitalize, and for the political process to take hold. US calls for a ceasefire a near month ago can only hold with the backing of the UN, and an end to the US’ own military support to the Coalition. Otherwise, peace will not only be unrealistic but impossible.

As soon as tomorrow the Senate could begin debate on War Powers resolution to bar further US involvement. It is all the more critical that the the opposition of Americans be heard.

The US has the political and military leverage to help end this war. The question is whether the Congress and the Administration will listen to the American public and use it, bringing an end to its role in the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.”

NOTE TO EDITORS

*This survey was carried out by YouGov on 1,168 respondents who were then matched down to a sample of 1,000 to produce the final dataset. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Fieldwork was undertaken between November 7-9 2018.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18+) with a margin of error of +/- 3.3%. **(25% of the 1,000 surveyed did not express an opinion)