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WHO cancels medical air-bridge of Yemen

Monday, 23 August 2021 5:40 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 23 August 2021 5:40 PM ]

Abdullatif al-Washali
Press TV, Sana'a

After suspending a medical air-bridge to Yemen for one year, the World Health Organization decided to permanently terminate the air-bridge due to what it says financial problems.

This comes amid the collapse of Yemen's health sector due to the severe fuel crisis caused by the continued Saudi blockade on the war-torn country.

Yemen's Ministry of Health said 10 thousand patients with chronic diseases including children have died during the past year due to the continued closure of Sana'a International Airport.

These patients, the Ministry said, are out of 35 thousand patients registered on the flights scheduled to travel through the United Nations' long-promised medical air-bridge.

Earlier, the director of Sana'a International Airport said, the UN organizations categorically refuse to allow any Yemeni patient to travel through their flights, even if it is an emergency.

Yemenis say canceling the air-bridge will only cause more deaths among those who need to travel abroad for treatment. They believe that it is a necessity to reopen Sana'a International Airport for patients at least for humanitarian considerations.

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