Health Ministry: The Siege on Sana’a Airport Has Caused the Death of 60,000 Patients and Threatens the Lives of More Than 120,000 Others

The Ministry of Health and Environment in the Sana’a government warned on Tuesday of the worsening humanitarian catastrophe resulting from the continued siege on Sana’a International Airport, confirming that its closure has caused the death of approximately 60,000 patients who needed to travel abroad for treatment, while more than 120,000 other patients face the same fate.

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The ministry’s spokesman, Dr. Anis Al-Asbahi, said in a televised statement that the obstruction of the entry of medicines and medical supplies, especially those requiring rapid air transport, has caused the death of about 60,000 patients who needed to travel abroad for treatment, while it continues to exacerbate the suffering of thousands of patients still on sick beds.

He pointed out that more than 120,000 cancer patients, 40,000 thalassemia and hereditary blood disease patients, and 8,000 kidney failure patients face the risk of death due to the shortage of medicines and therapeutic supplies.

He added that the siege also led to about 3.5 million children suffering from acute malnutrition, while it caused the disruption of 83 pharmaceutical companies and importers, and a 60% decrease in the pharmaceutical market’s capacity due to the difficulty of importing raw materials and medical supplies.

For his part, the head of the Supreme Medical Committee in the Sana’a government, Dr. Motahar Al-Darwish, affirmed that the siege has exacerbated chronic diseases due to the shortage of medicines and treatment protocols, calling on the international community to take urgent action to reopen Sana’a Airport without conditions.