The Director of the Public Health and Population Office in the Yemeni province of Taiz, Dr. Fahd Al-Nathari, warned of the serious repercussions of the continuous attacks carried out by Houthi militias on health facilities, medical staff, and ambulances, emphasizing that they hinder the provision of medical services amid the ongoing blockade and the prevention of entry for medicines, medical supplies, and fuel.
Al-Nathari clarified in a statement to the Yemeni News Agency "Saba" that five hospitals and health centers suffered varying degrees of damage due to shelling and targeting, pointing out that other health facilities were damaged by direct and indirect shells. He noted the loss of 15 ambulances by the health sector after they were looted by Houthi militias, in addition to the looting of medical devices and equipment from hospitals in Al-Mukha and Al-Turabah, which weakened the capacity of health facilities to respond to emergencies.
Al-Nathari accused Houthi militias of using health facilities for military purposes, converting some of them into gathering points for their elements or centers for managing their operations and taking cover, as well as deploying military machinery inside them. He stated that the targeting of medical staff and ambulances by Houthi snipers during attempts to rescue the injured and evacuate the dead poses a danger to humanitarian and medical work, noting that this obstructs the evacuation of the dead and wounded from affected areas.
He warned that the continued targeting of health facilities and medical staff, alongside the prevention of entry for medicines, medical supplies, and fuel, exacerbates the suffering of the population and limits the health sector's ability to meet growing needs, threatening the lives of thousands of patients, especially those suffering from diabetes, kidney diseases, cancer, and chronic illnesses. Al-Nathari called for the rapid delivery of medical supplies and fuel, and for ensuring the protection of hospitals, health centers, ambulances, and health sector workers from targeting.
On October 5, the Yemeni Armed Forces began the "Yemen Dawn" operation, aimed at restoring state institutions and areas under Houthi militia control, and liberating the capital, Sanaa. Also, Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi called on the United Nations last Monday to take international action to designate the Houthi militia as a terrorist organization, ensure the implementation of an arms embargo against it, cut off its funding and arming sources, and hold its supporters and those responsible for its violations accountable.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
Comments (0)