Local Editor
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warned Thursday that the outbreak of Cholera in Yemen remains “alarming” and expressed fear of more epidemic in the future if warring parties do not “improve their respect of the laws of war”.
In his statement, the president of the ICRC, Peter Maurer, said “with the rainy season approaching, we expect more than 600,000 cases by the end of the year. This is unprecedented.”
Maurer described the outbreak as “manmade” and said it was the direct consequence of more than two years of warfare.
The head of the ICRC called on all parties to the conflict to alleviate the situation in the war-torn country, including halting attacks on hospitals and electricity and water plants.
He also called on the coalition to “stop holding humanitarian action hostage to political ends, guarantee access for humanitarian agencies to the most vulnerable populations, give the ICRC regular access to all conflict-related detainees, and ease import restrictions so economic activity can resume.”
Maurer also urged the international community to “actively seek out solutions to this enormous crisis, and wield influence over the behavior of warring parties as a matter of urgency.”
The ICRC chief added that the organization has doubled its Yemen budget this year to over USD100 million, pledging to continue fighting cholera and help the most vulnerable people in Yemen.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by Website Team
