Kuwait university hospital in sana'a: held a press conference today to highlight the crimes of the Saudi-led aggression and blockade, their impact on patients, and the politicization of humanitarian work in Yemen by international organizations and donors.
According to Yemen News Agency, at the conference, the hospital's director, Dr. Abdul Latif Abu Talib, reviewed the direct impact on the health sector in general and the hospital in particular due to the shortage of medicines and supplies, especially life-saving ones such as anesthetics, emergency and intensive care medications, medical supplies, and intravenous fluids.
He addressed the difficulties the hospital faces in providing services to patients as a result of the ongoing blockade and the prevention of the entry of medicines and medical supplies. He emphasized that the politicization of humanitarian work by international organizations has exacerbated the tragedy suffered by the health sector and patients, holding the Saudi-led coalition responsible for the current health situation.
A statement issued by the Ministry of Health and Environment during the press conference, read by the ministry's spokesperson, Dr. Anis Al-Asbahi, condemned the hostile practices targeting the health sector, which amount to war crimes under international humanitarian law, warning of their catastrophic consequences for the lives of millions of citizens. The statement emphasized that suspending humanitarian aid to the health sector constitutes a "politicization of humanitarian work" and a blatant violation of the principles of neutrality and impartiality. It explained that this unjust measure has deprived patients of treatment and tragically increased mortality rates.
The statement noted that the suspension of humanitarian aid has paralyzed the health sector by halting incentives for 15,000 health workers, depriving 2,207 health facilities of essential operating expenses, and halting $48 million in funding for medicines and vaccines, thus depriving five million children of life-saving routine vaccinations.
It further reported the cessation of support for nutrition centers that save the lives of 30,000 children annually, in addition to the suspension of fuel supplies for chronic disease medications and the cessation of fuel support for hospitals. The statement also pointed to the prevention of medicines, including anesthetics, from entering Sana'a from Aden, citing significant obstacles, detentions, and obstruction by mercenary groups, coupled with a clear failure by international organizations to fulfill their humanitarian role. The statement explained that the closure of Sana'a International Airport since 2016 has deprived the market of medicines requiring a special cold chain, including anesthetics and resuscitation drugs, exacerbating the suffering of patients in need of life-saving medications that cannot be stored or transported using conventional methods.
It noted that shipments of medicines destined for Sana'a from Aden face complex security and customs procedures and numerous checkpoints, in addition to a 500% increase in shipping costs, leading to delays in the arrival of medicines and increased prices.
The statement added that the Yemeni pharmaceutical sector is suffering from a comprehensive air, land, and sea blockade, as the Saudi-led coalition and its mercenaries have officially imposed strict restrictions on imports via non-refrigerated containers, further exacerbating the drug crisis in the country.
It added that the coalition and its mercenaries have escalated the situation by halting and obstructing the arrival of life-saving drug shipments and recently imposing arbitrary measures, including hindering permits for the passage of medicines and medical supplies to Sana'a and other non-occupied governorates, and forcing traders to keep large quantities of imported shipments-up to 50%-in Aden. According to the statement, a report issued by the Supreme Authority for Medicines indicated a shortage of 120 types of medications for chronic diseases, including resuscitation and anesthetic drugs, as a result of the unjust blockade and the airport closure, which impedes the entry of medicines requiring special transport conditions.
The Ministry of Health reiterated its rejection of using humanitarian aid as a tool for political pressure, emphasizing that such practices constitute a war crime because they deprive millions of their fundamental right to health.
It pointed out that the decline in medical services is not due to national authorities failing to fulfill their duties, but rather to the lack of impartiality of organizations and their politicization of humanitarian work. Relief and medical aid is being subjected to the political and security agendas of donor countries, instead of being directed according to the four fundamental humanitarian principles: humanity, neutrality, independence, and impartiality.
The statement stressed the necessity of immediately halting hostilities, seriously and responsibly implementing the requirements of peace, opening land, sea, and air crossings without restriction or condition, and not obstructing the passage of medicines and medical supplies, as these are humanitarian needs and a humanitarian obligation, not a favor or act of charity.