Red Cross: Yemen Crumbling from War, Desperately Needs Aid
Local Editor
The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross [ICRC] said on Tuesday that Yemen is "crumbling" under a deepening humanitarian crisis after months of war.
A Saudi-led military coalition began an aggression against Yemen on March 26. The airstrikes have not been authorized by the UN.
ICRC’s head, Peter Maurer, ending a three-day visit to Yemen, called for free access to deliver life-saving food, water and medicines, while urging the warring parties to work towards a negotiated solution.
"The humanitarian situation is nothing short of catastrophic. Every family in Yemen has been affected by this conflict...The world needs to wake up to what is going on," Maurer said in a statement.
Nearly 4,000 people were martyred and 1.3 million forced to flee their homes during the conflict, he said.
"The compounded effects of intense fighting and import restrictions are having a dramatic impact on health care. Health facilities have been massively attacked as well as suffering collateral damage," said Maurer.
He further said, "Medicines can’t get in so patient care is falling apart. Fuel shortages mean equipment doesn’t work. This cannot go on. Yemen is crumbling. As a matter of urgency, there must be free movement of goods into and across the country ... Much more needs to be done".
