The Red
Cross says the world must “wake up” to the spiraling humanitarian
crisis in Yemen.
Civilians in
Yemen are living in appalling conditions compounded by heavy fighting
and a Saudi Arabian blockade, the head of the International Committee
of the Red Cross said Tuesday.
After a
three day tour of the war-torn nation, Peter Maurer urged the
international community to “wake up.”
“The
humanitarian situation is nothing short of catastrophic. Every family
in Yemen has been affected by this conflict. The people are facing
immense hardship. And it is getting worse by the day,” he said.
The ICRC
head warned that “intense” fighting has devastated civilian
infrastructure including hospitals. He also cited “import
restrictions” as a major hurdle to providing humanitarian relief.
Since Saudi Arabia launched its military offensive in March, Yemen
has been largely cut off from the outside world by a Saudi blockade.
While Saudi
Arabia says the blockade is necessary to curb the flow of arms into
the war zone, human rights groups argue the measure has exacerbated a
growing humanitarian crisis by slowing aid deliveries.
“Medicines
can't get in so patient care is falling apart. Fuel shortages mean
equipment doesn't work. Insecurity means vaccination campaigns don't
happen,” Maurer said.
He continued
by stating, “This cannot go on. Yemen is crumbling. As a matter of
urgency, there must be free movement of goods into and across the
country. Deliveries of food, water and medicine should be
facilitated.”
An estimated
4,000 people have been killed in Yemen’s conflict since March,
while 1.3 million people have been displaced.
Maurer's
desperate plea was issued as Saudi-backed forces in Yemen continued
an offensive to wrestle the country's south from the Houthi. Fighters
say they have totally pushed the Houthi from the southern province of
Abyan, potentially a major victory for Saudi-backed factions.
Saudi Arabia
has backed ousted Yemeni President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi, who was
removed from power by the Houthis earlier this year.
The Saudis
have demanded the Houthi hand power back to Hadi, though the movement
remains in control of much of Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa.
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