Ministry of Health in Sana’a: Coalition blocking entry of medical teams into Yemen

The Saudi-Emirati alliance is preventing medical crews from entering Yemen to provide help and save thousands of patients who are unable to travel, according to Mutahar Al-Darwish, the head of the Supreme Medical Committee in Sana’a. He emphasized that the humanitarian crises and the suffering of patients are made worse by restricting Sana’a International Airport to only one destination (Jordan) and by limiting flights.

Sana’a – Al-Khabar Al-Yemeni:

Al-Darwish explained that “60,000 critically ill patients in Yemen registered with the Supreme Medical Committee, as well as many others in medical centers, and the number is increasing with the continued siege,” adding that opening up multiple destinations for patients through Sana’a airport would reduce travel costs and increase the number of patients who are able to travel abroad for treatment.

Due to the blockade on Sana’a airport, he said, just 10% of Yemen’s seriously ill patients are able to travel, and Jordan is their only option. He added that patients can’t afford the $30,000–$100,000 expense of treatment abroad.

In the same context, Deputy Minister of Health in Sana’a, Najeeb Al-Qubati, explained that due to the 9-year-long siege, the needs of the healthcare sector cannot be met by a single destination and limited flights, adding that 30% of patients in Yemen require travel abroad for treatment due to the current state of the healthcare sector and lack of resources.