The Reading / Listening - Yemen Aid Appeal - Level 6

The United Nations has launched an appeal to raise a whopping $4.2 billion in aid to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. It is the largest ever appeal made by the UN. It comes after the country has been ravaged by years of war and is on the brink of famine. The UN said it needs the money to help over 19 million people in the war-torn nation. It estimates that nearly a quarter of a million Yemenis are suffering from malnutrition and are close to dying from starvation. The UN said that around 80 per cent of the population needed urgent humanitarian assistance and protection. A UN spokesperson said the suffering of the people in Yemen has reached a scale not seen in living memory.

The UN announced it had finally gained access to food stored at warehouses in the Red Sea port city of Hudaydah. There is enough food stored there to feed around 3.7 million people for a month. The port has been inaccessible for the past six months because of heavy fighting in the area. The UN was worried because the food was at risk of rotting. The UN said government forces and Houthi rebels could start to withdraw from around the city soon. It added: "It has really been a horrific year for millions and millions of people in Yemen, who are literally balancing on the edge of famine and starvation. They need massive amounts of aid, water, sanitation, and education for their children."

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Yemen Aid Appeal - Level 4  or  Yemen Aid Appeal - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.voanews.com/a/un-pledging-conference-seeks-record-4-2-billion-for-yemen-crisis/4801876.html
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47365783
  • https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/uae-and-saudi-arabia-announce-1-billion-joint-humanitarian-aid-for-yemen-1.830500


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. YEMEN: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about Yemen. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       appeal / humanitarian / crisis / war / malnutrition / starvation / suffering / memory /
       access / warehouses / food / heavy fighting / rotting / horrific / millions / education
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. HUMANITARIAN CRISES: Students A strongly believe there will be no more humanitarian crises in 50 years; Students B strongly believe otherwise.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. AID: Where could the aid go in Yemen? Would it work? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Could It Help?

Would It Work?

Water

 

 

Sanitation

 

 

Education

 

 

Housing

 

 

Health

 

 

Jobs

 

 

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. APPEAL: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "appeal". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. RAISING MONEY: Rank these with your partner. Put the best ways of raising money at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • lotteries
  • car boot sales
  • concerts
  • web pages
  • petitions to governments
  • bake sales
  • sponsored walks
  • street collections

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. launched a. Make suffering or a lack of something less severe; make a situation better.
      2. whopping b. Extreme scarcity of food.
      3. alleviate c. Started or set in motion an activity, campaign, project or business.
      4. ravaged d. Very, very large.
      5. on the brink e. Caused severe and extensive damage to.
      6. famine f. A point at which something, typically something unwelcome, is about to happen.
      7. suffering g. The state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship.

    Paragraph 2

      8. inaccessible h. Really; in reality.
      9. rotting i. Unable to be reached.
      10. rebel j. There being an intense feeling of fear, shock, or disgust.
      11. horrific k. Suffering or death caused by hunger.
      12. literally l. The process of decaying and becoming bad.
      13. starvation m. The public health provision of clean drinking water and adequate sewage disposal.
      14. sanitation n. A person who opposes or fights in armed resistance against a government or ruler.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The UN wants over $4 billion in aid for Yemen.     T / F
  2. The UN appeal for aid for Yemen is the UN's biggest ever appeal.     T / F
  3. The UN wants to help over 19 million people in Yemen.     T / F
  4. A UN spokesperson said the suffering is the worst in human history.     T / F
  5. A food warehouse in the city of Hudaydah is still closed.     T / F
  6. Most of the food in the warehouse has rotted.     T / F
  7. Houthi rebels are refusing to leave the city of Hudaydah.     T / F
  8. The UN wants to spend part of the aid on sanitation.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. appeal
  2. whopping
  3. ravaged
  4. malnutrition
  5. suffering
  6. stored
  7. enough
  8. rotting
  9. withdraw
  10. literally
  1. pull out
  2. poor diet
  3. decaying
  4. ruined
  5. sufficient
  6. plea
  7. actually
  8. hardship
  9. huge
  10. kept

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. an appeal to raise a
  2. alleviate the humanitarian
  3. the country has been ravaged
  4. on the brink
  5. reached a scale not seen
  6. it had finally gained access to
  7. The port has been
  8. the food was at risk
  9. It has really been a horrific year
  10. literally balancing on the edge
  1. of famine
  2. of famine
  3. food stored at warehouses
  4. by years of war
  5. for millions
  6. crisis in Yemen
  7. of rotting
  8. in living memory
  9. inaccessible
  10. whopping $4.2 billion

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
crisis
estimates
memory
appeal
urgent
ravaged
suffering
starvation

The United Nations has launched an (1) ____________ to raise a whopping $4.2 billion in aid to help alleviate the humanitarian (2) ____________ in Yemen. It is the largest ever appeal made by the UN. It comes after the country has been (3) ____________ by years of war and is on the brink of famine. The UN said it needs the money to help over 19 million people in the war-torn nation. It (4) ____________ that nearly a quarter of a million Yemenis are suffering from malnutrition and are close to dying from (5) ____________. The UN said that around 80 per cent of the population needed (6) ____________ humanitarian assistance and protection. A UN spokesperson said the (7) ____________ of the people in Yemen has reached a scale not seen in living (8) ____________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
rotting
access
massive
horrific
sanitation
inaccessible
feed
literally

The UN announced it had finally gained (9) ____________ to food stored at warehouses in the Red Sea port city of Hudaydah. There is enough food stored there to (10) ____________ around 3.7 million people for a month. The port has been (11) ____________ for the past six months because of heavy fighting in the area. The UN was worried because the food was at risk of (12) ____________. The UN said government forces and Houthi rebels could start to withdraw from around the city soon. It added: "It has really been a (13) ____________ year for millions and millions of people in Yemen, who are (14) ____________ balancing on the edge of famine and starvation. They need (15) ____________ amounts of aid, water, (16) ____________, and education for their children."

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  The United Nations has launched an appeal to raise ______ $4.2 billion
     a.  a whipping
     b.  a walloping
     c.  a whopper
     d.  a whopping
2) the country has been ravaged by years of war and is on ______ famine
     a.  the brink of
     b.  the blink of
     c.  the drink of
     d.  the blank of
3)  Yemenis are suffering from malnutrition and are close to dying ______
     a.  from stave nation
     b.  from starve nation
     c.  from starvation
     d.  from star nation
4) 80 per cent of the population needed urgent humanitarian assistance ______
     a.  and pro-tech shun
     b.  and pro detect shun
     c.  and pro detection
     d.  and protection
5)  suffering of the people in Yemen has reached a scale not seen in ______
     a.  living memorial
     b.  living memories
     c.  living memorise
     d.  living memory

6)  The UN announced it had finally gained access to ______ warehouses
     a.  food stored at
     b.  foodie stored that
     c.  fodder stored at
     d.  fodder stored that
7)  The port has been inaccessible for the past six months because of ______
     a.  heavily fighting
     b.  heavy fighting
     c.  heavies fighting
     d.  heavenly fighting
8)  The UN was worried because the food was at ______
     a.  risqué of rotting
     b.  risky of rotting
     c.  risk off rotting
     d.  risk of rotting
9) millions of people in Yemen, who are literally balancing on the ______
     a.  edgy of famine
     b.  edge of famine
     c.  edged of famine
     d.  hedge of famine
10)  They need massive amounts of aid, water, ______ education
     a.  satiation, and
     b.  starvation, and
     c.  sanitation, and
     d.  stagnation, and

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

The United Nations has launched an (1) ___________________ a whopping $4.2 billion in aid (2) ___________________ the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. It is the largest ever appeal made by the UN. It comes after the country has been (3) ___________________ of war and is on the brink of famine. The UN said it needs the money to help over 19 million people in the war-torn nation. It estimates that (4) ___________________ of a million Yemenis are suffering from malnutrition and are (5) ___________________ from starvation. The UN said that around 80 per cent of the population needed urgent humanitarian assistance and protection. A UN spokesperson said the suffering of the people in Yemen has (6) ___________________ not seen in living memory.

The UN announced it had finally (7) ___________________ food stored at warehouses in the Red Sea port city of Hudaydah. There is enough food stored there (8) ___________________ 3.7 million people for a month. The port has been inaccessible for the past six months because of heavy fighting in the area. The UN was worried because the food was at (9) ___________________. The UN said government forces and Houthi rebels could start to withdraw from around the city soon. It added: "It has really been (10) ___________________ for millions and millions of people in Yemen, who are literally (11) ___________________ edge of famine and starvation. They need (12) ___________________ aid, water, sanitation, and education for their children."

Comprehension questions

  1. How much money does the United Nations want to raise for Yemen?
  2. What did the article say Yemen was on the brink of?
  3. How many people does the United Nations want to help?
  4. How many Yemenis are close to dying from starvation?
  5. What do 80 per cent of Yemenis need urgently?
  6. What has the UN finally gained access to?
  7. How many people can a food store feed for one month?
  8. What was the UN worried might happen to some stored food?
  9. What did the UN say people were balancing on the edge of?
  10. What did the UN say people needed for their children?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  How much money does the United Nations want to raise for Yemen?
a) $42 billion
b) $4.2 billion
c) $2.4 billion
d) $24 billion
2)  What did the article say Yemen was on the brink of?
a) success
b) collapse
c) war
d) famine
3) How many people does the United Nations want to help?
a) over 19 million
b) exactly 19 million
c) around 19 million
d) under 19 million
4) How many Yemenis are close to dying from starvation?
a) over a quarter of a million
b) exactly a quarter of a million
c) nearly a quarter of a million
d) under a quarter of a million
5) What do 80 per cent of Yemenis need urgently?
a) washing powder and soap
b) humanitarian assistance and protection
c) reuniting with families
d) hope

6) What has the UN finally gained access to?
a) food at a warehouse
b) an explosives warehouse
c) a road link
d) the Internet
7) How many people can a food store feed for one month?
a) just over 3.7 million people
b) just under 3.7 million people
c) around 3.7 million people
d) exactly 3.7 million people
8) What was the UN worried might happen to some stored food?
a) it might rot
b) it might be stolen
c) mice might eat it
d) it might melt
9) What did the UN say people were balancing on the edge of?
a) famine and starvation
b) disaster
c) war
d) collapse
10) What did the UN say people needed for their children?
a) hope
b) toys
c) blankets
d) education

Role play

Role  A – Sponsored Walks
You think sponsored walks are the best way to raise money. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): lotteries, concerts or web pages.

Role  B – Lotteries
You think lotteries are the best way to raise money. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): sponsored walks, concerts or web pages.

Role  C – Concerts
You think concerts are the best way to raise money. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): lotteries, sponsored walks or web pages.

Role  D – Web Pages
You think web pages are the best way to raise money. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their ways. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): lotteries, concerts or sponsored walks.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'aid'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'Yemen'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • finally
    • enough
    • past
    • risk
    • horrific
    • massive
    • launched
    • ever
    • brink
    • torn
    • close
    • memory

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - UN in record aid appeal for Yemen

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'aid'?
    3. What do you know about Yemen?
    4. Why can't the world's richest people give the $4.2 billion?
    5. Should world governments hang their heads in shame over Yemen?
    6. Who is fighting whom in Yemen?
    7. What would it be like to live in a war-torn country?
    8. Who is responsible for people starving in Yemen?
    9. What can you do to help people in Yemen?
    10. How big a story is Yemen?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'Yemen'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How can we help Yemen?
    5. How did Yemen get into the mess it is in today?
    6. How much will the money help?
    7. How horrific do you think life is in Yemen?
    8. What would you do if your country was in famine?
    9. What will Yemen be like in 20 years' time?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the head of the UN?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    The United Nations has (1) ____ an appeal to raise a whopping $4.2 billion in aid to help (2) ____ the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. It is the largest ever appeal made by the UN. It comes after the country has been (3) ____ by years of war and is on the brink of famine. The UN said it needs the money to help over 19 million people in the war-(4) ____ nation. It estimates that nearly a quarter of a million Yemenis are suffering from malnutrition and are close to dying from starvation. The UN said that around 80 per cent of the population needed (5) ____ humanitarian assistance and protection. A UN spokesperson said the suffering of the people in Yemen has reached a scale not seen (6) ____ living memory.

    The UN announced it had (7) ____ gained access to food stored at warehouses in the Red Sea port city of Hudaydah. There is enough food stored there to (8) ____ around 3.7 million people for a month. The port has been inaccessible for the past six months because of (9) ____ fighting in the area. The UN was worried because the food was at risk of (10) ____. The UN said government forces and Houthi rebels could start to withdraw from around the city soon. It added: "It has really been a (11) ____ year for millions and millions of people in Yemen, who are literally balancing on the (12) ____ of famine and starvation. They need massive amounts of aid, water, sanitation, and education for their children."

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     lurched     (b)     latched     (c)     lunched     (d)     launched    
    2. (a)     abbreviate     (b)     escalate     (c)     elevate     (d)     alleviate    
    3. (a)     staged     (b)     ravaged     (c)     assuaged     (d)     engaged    
    4. (a)     tore     (b)     tear     (c)     torn     (d)     tears     
    5. (a)     urgency     (b)     urgently     (c)     urgent     (d)     urgencies    
    6. (a)     in     (b)     on     (c)     at     (d)     of    
    7. (a)     lastly     (b)     finally     (c)     end     (d)     conclusion    
    8. (a)     feed     (b)     freed     (c)     fraud     (d)     feud    
    9. (a)     leaden     (b)     heavy     (c)     weighty     (d)     portly    
    10. (a)     rot     (b)     rotter     (c)     rotting     (d)     rots    
    11. (a)     scared     (b)     terror     (c)     horrific     (d)     petrify    
    12. (a)     lid     (b)     rim     (c)     cliff     (d)     edge

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. launched an eappal
    2. rgvaaed by years of war
    3. on the brink of emniaf
    4. close to dying from vasnoatrti
    5. urgent raaumhtnaiin assistance
    6. a scale not seen in living reomym

    Paragraph 2

    1. it had llnafyi gained access
    2. The port has been cnesaesibcli
    3. rebels could start to wadtirhw
    4. It has really been a fichirro year
    5. altryleli balancing on the edge
    6. They need ivsamse amounts

    Put the text back together

    (...)  city of Hudaydah. There is enough food stored there to feed around 3.7 million people for a month. The port has been inaccessible
    (...)  crisis in Yemen. It is the largest ever appeal made by the UN. It comes after the country has been
    (...)  needed urgent humanitarian assistance and protection. A UN spokesperson said the suffering
    (...)  over 19 million people in the war-torn nation. It estimates that nearly a quarter of a million Yemenis are
    (...)  risk of rotting. The UN said government forces and Houthi rebels could start to withdraw from around the city
    (...)  starvation. They need massive amounts of aid, water, sanitation, and education for their children."
    (...)  soon. It added: "It has really been a horrific year for millions and millions
    (...)  for the past six months because of heavy fighting in the area. The UN was worried because the food was at
    (...)  The UN announced it had finally gained access to food stored at warehouses in the Red Sea port
    (...)  ravaged by years of war and is on the brink of famine. The UN said it needs the money to help
    (...)  of people in Yemen, who are literally balancing on the edge of famine and
    (...)  of the people in Yemen has reached a scale not seen in living memory.
    1  ) The United Nations has launched an appeal to raise a whopping $4.2 billion in aid to help alleviate the humanitarian
    (...)  suffering from malnutrition and are close to dying from starvation. The UN said that around 80 per cent of the population

    Put the words in the right order

    1. whopping   an   raise   appeal   to   Launched   $4.2   billion   .   a
    2. appeal   largest   by   the   UN   .   The   made   ever
    3. 19   nation   .   people   in   Over   the   million   war-torn
    4. a   Yemenis   quarter   A   of   are   million   suffering   .
    5. in   not   a   memory   .   seen   scale   living   Reached
    6. access   to   gained   at   Finally   warehouses   .   stored   food
    7. people   3.7   Feed   month   .   million   for   a   around
    8. because   Worried   at   food   of   risk   was   rotting   .
    9. It   horrific   for   has   millions   .   a   been   year
    10. on   edge   balancing   of   Literally   famine   .   the

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    The United Nations has launched an appeal to raise / rise a whopping $4.2 billion in aid to help abbreviate / alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Yemen. It is the largest ever appeal made by the UN. It comes after the country has been revered / ravaged by years of war and is on the brink / blank of famine. The UN said it needs the money to help over 19 million people in the war-tears / war-torn nation. It estimates that nearly a quartile / quarter of a million Yemenis are suffering from malnourishing / malnutrition and are close to dying from starvation / starved. The UN said that around 80 per cent of the population needed urgent / urgency humanitarian assistance and protection. A UN spokesperson said the suffering of the people in Yemen has reached a scale not seen in alive / living memory.

    The UN announced it had final / finally gained access to food stored at warehouses in the Red Sea port / portly city of Hudaydah. There is enough food stored then / there to feed around 3.7 million people for a month. The port has been inaccessible for the passed / past six months because of heavy / heavily fighting in the area. The UN was worried because the food was at risk of rotten / rotting. The UN said government forces and Houthi rebels could start to withdraw / deposit from around the city soon. It added: "It has really been a horrific / horrify year for millions and millions of people in Yemen, who are literally balance / balancing on the edge of famine and starvation. They need massive amounts of aid, water, sanitary / sanitation, and education for their children."

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    T h_ U n_t_d N_t__ n s h_s l__ n c h_d _n _p p__ l t_ r__ s_ _ w h_p p_n g $ 4 . 2 b_l l__ n _n __ d t_ h_l p _l l_v__ t_ t h_ h_m_n_t_r__ n c r_s_s _n Y_m_n . I t _s t h_ l_r g_s t _v_r _p p__ l m_d_ b y t h_ U N . I t c_m_s _f t_r t h_ c__ n t r y h_s b__ n r_v_g_d b y y__ r s _f w_r _n d _s _n t h_ b r_n k _f f_m_n_. T h_ U N s__ d _t n__ d s t h_ m_n_y t_ h_l p _v_r 1 9 m_l l__ n p__ p l_ _n t h_ w_r - t_r n n_t__ n . I t _s t_m_t_s t h_t n__ r l y _ q__ r t_r _f _ m_l l__ n Y_m_n_s _r_ s_f f_r_n g f r_m m_l n_t r_t__ n _n d _r_ c l_s_ t_ d y_n g f r_m s t_r v_t__ n . T h_ U N s__ d t h_t _r__ n d 8 0 p_r c_n t _f t h_ p_p_l_t__ n n__ d_d _r g_n t h_m_n_t_r__ n _s s_s t_n c_ _n d p r_t_c t__ n . A U N s p_k_s p_r s_n s__ d t h_ s_f f_r_n g _f t h_ p__ p l_ _n Y_m_n h_s r__ c h_d _ s c_l_ n_t s__ n _n l_v_n g m_m_r y .

    T h_ U N _n n__ n c_d _t h_d f_n_l l y g__ n_d _c c_s s t_ f__ d s t_r_d _t w_r_h__ s_s _n t h_ R_d S__ p_r t c_t y _f H_d_y d_h . T h_r_ _s _n__ g h f__ d s t_r_d t h_r_ t_ f__ d _r__ n d 3 . 7 m_l l__ n p__ p l_ f_r _ m_n t h . T h_ p_r t h_s b__ n _n_c c_s s_b l_ f_r t h_ p_s t s_x m_n t h s b_c__ s_ _f h__ v y f_g h t_n g _n t h_ _r__ . T h_ U N w_s w_r r__ d b_c__ s_ t h_ f__ d w_s _t r_s k _f r_t t_n g . T h_ U N s__ d g_v_r n m_n t f_r c_s _n d H__ t h_ r_b_l s c__ l d s t_r t t_ w_t h d r_w f r_m _r__ n d t h_ c_t y s__ n . I t _d d_d : " I t h_s r__ l l y b__ n _ h_r r_f_c y__ r f_r m_l l__ n s _n d m_l l__ n s _f p__ p l_ _n Y_m_n , w h_ _r_ l_t_r_l l y b_l_n c_n g _n t h_ _d g_ _f f_m_n_ _n d s t_r v_t__ n . T h_y n__ d m_s s_v_ _m__ n t s _f __ d , w_t_r , s_n_t_t__ n , _n d _d_c_t__ n f_r t h__ r c h_l d r_n . "

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    the united nations has launched an appeal to raise a whopping $4.2 billion in aid to help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in yemen. it is the largest ever appeal made by the un. it comes after the country has been ravaged by years of war and is on the brink of famine. the un said it needs the money to help over 19 million people in the war-torn nation. it estimates that nearly a quarter of a million yemenis are suffering from malnutrition and are close to dying from starvation. the un said that around 80 per cent of the population needed urgent humanitarian assistance and protection. a un spokesperson said the suffering of the people in yemen has reached a scale not seen in living memory.

    the un announced it had finally gained access to food stored at warehouses in the red sea port city of hudaydah. there is enough food stored there to feed around 3.7 million people for a month. the port has been inaccessible for the past six months because of heavy fighting in the area. the un was worried because the food was at risk of rotting. the un said government forces and houthi rebels could start to withdraw from around the city soon. it added: "it has really been a horrific year for millions and millions of people in yemen, who are literally balancing on the edge of famine and starvation. they need massive amounts of aid, water, sanitation, and education for their children."

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    TheUnitedNationshaslaunchedanappealtoraiseawhopping$4.2billio
    ninaidtohelpalleviatethehumanitariancrisisinYemen.Itisthelargeste
    verappealmadebytheUN.Itcomesafterthecountryhasbeenravagedb
    yyearsofwarandisonthebrinkoffamine.TheUNsaiditneedsthemoneyt
    ohelpover19millionpeopleinthewar-tornnation.Itestimatesthatnea
    rlyaquarterofamillionYemenisaresufferingfrommalnutritionandarec
    losetodyingfromstarvation.TheUNsaidthataround80percentofthepo
    pulationneededurgenthumanitarianassistanceandprotection.AUNs
    pokespersonsaidthesufferingofthepeopleinYemenhasreachedascal
    enotseeninlivingmemory.TheUNannouncedithadfinallygainedacces
    stofoodstoredatwarehousesintheRedSeaportcityofHudaydah.There
    isenoughfoodstoredtheretofeedaround3.7millionpeopleforamonth.
    Theporthasbeeninaccessibleforthepastsixmonthsbecauseofheavyfi
    ghtinginthearea.TheUNwasworriedbecausethefoodwasatriskofrotti
    ng.TheUNsaidgovernmentforcesandHouthirebelscouldstarttowithdr
    awfromaroundthecitysoon.Itadded:"Ithasreallybeenahorrificyearfo
    rmillionsandmillionsofpeopleinYemen,whoareliterallybalancingonth
    eedgeoffamineandstarvation.Theyneedmassiveamountsofaid,wate
    r,sanitation,andeducationfortheirchildren."

    Free writing

    Write about Yemen for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    World governments should hang their heads in shame over Yemen. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. YEMEN: Make a poster about Yemen. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. SHAME: Write a magazine article about holding a day on which governments should hang their heads in shame over Yemen. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on Yemen. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to reduce the crisis in Yemen. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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