Sana'a: Today, a press conference was held at Sana'a International Airport, organized by the Ministry of Health and Environment in collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, the General Authority for Civil Aviation and Meteorology, and the National Commission for Human Rights. The event, titled "Siege of Sana'a Airport: A Health Crisis Turning into a Comprehensive Humanitarian Catastrophe," addressed the severe impact of the Saudi siege on Yemen, which has persisted for over 12 years.
According to Yemen News Agency, the Minister of Health and Environment, Dr. Ali Shiban, highlighted the deliberate humanitarian catastrophe caused by the siege, particularly affecting patients with chronic and incurable diseases. The blockade has resulted in critical shortages of medicines and obstructed travel for medical treatment abroad, contributing to the collapse of Yemen's health system. Dr. Shiban emphasized the urgency of addressing the lack of access to essential treatments and the prohibition on obtaining necessary medications like radioactive iodine.
The Head of the National Commission for Human Rights, Ali Taisir, underscored the media's role in voicing the plight of the Yemeni people. He called on the United Nations and international community to recognize the siege as a violation of international humanitarian law and a war crime. Taisir expressed concern over the increasing number of patients at risk of death due to restricted access to treatment, stressing that the closure of Sana'a Airport has exacerbated the humanitarian crisis.
The Director of Sana'a International Airport, Khaled Al-Shaif, declared the airport ready for civilian flights, condemning the siege's impact on Yemen's citizens. He compared past and present airport operations, noting a stark decrease in passenger traffic due to the blockade. Al-Shaif argued that the continued closure of the airport constitutes a war crime and called for its immediate reopening.
A statement from the Ministry of Health and Environment, delivered by Dr. Anis Al-Asbahi, outlined the dire health conditions in Yemen, including acute hunger affecting over 17 million people and severe medicine shortages. The statement highlighted the catastrophic impact on cancer, kidney failure, and diabetes patients, exacerbated by the siege's restrictions on medical supplies.
The press conference ended with a call for international intervention to lift the siege, ensure the flow of medicines, and reopen Sana'a Airport for humanitarian and commercial flights to alleviate the ongoing crisis.