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War hampering ICRC aid delivery in Yemen: Spokesman

Sunday, 10 December 2017 5:21 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 11 December 2017 6:55 PM ]

A Yemeni man looks at the damage in the aftermath of a Saudi airstrike on the state TV station in the capital Sana’a, on December 9, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

The ongoing war and blockade of Yemen is “hampering” the ability of humanitarian organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to deliver aid to the impoverished Arab nation.

“Let’s not forget that millions and millions of Yemenis need humanitarian assistance and … the blockade that has been imposed on the Yemeni people in the past few weeks has negatively impacted the situation. We were unable to bring humanitarian aid, us and other humanitarian organizations, and this has negatively affected the prices of food and even the imports of food. Yemenis because of the war had limited access to food and fuel and medicine. With the blockade that came, it really intensified the situation in a negative way,” Ralph Elhaje, an ICRC spokesman, told Press TV in an interview on Sunday.

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He also said the outbreak of cholera in Yemen is due to the blockade, which is preventing proper supplies to be brought in to contain this "easily treatable disease."

The analyst went on to say that targeting water stations had prevented millions of Yemenis from having access to clean water.

Elhaje said the blockade had to be totally lifted; otherwise, there would be an unprecedented surge in the number of cholera patients.

According to the analyst, a solution needs to be reached in order to allow humanitarian workers to work freely and safely in Yemen, emphasizing that under humanitarian law civilians should be safeguarded.

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