Overly Bureaucratic Procedures and Long Waits Cuts off Support to 22 Million Yemenis

By Maged SrourROME, Jun 28 2018 (IPS)As Yemen’s people struggle to survive amid what has been described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, the stranglehold by both government coalition forces and rebels over the country’s main ports of entry and distribution is cutting off a lifeline of support to 22 million people. Amnesty International, in a report published on Jun. 22 after seven months of extensive research, said that the Saudi-led government coalition are blocking the entrance of essential humanitarian aid, including food, fuel and medicines. And any distribution of this aid is slowed by Houthi rebels within the country.“The core aspect highlighted by the report is that humanitarian aid finds it extremely difficult to reach destinations inside the country,” Riccardo Noury, communications director and spokesperson for Amnesty International in Italy, told IPS.Aid workers described to Amnesty International the extent of delays, with one saying that it took up to two months to move supplies out of Sana’a, the country’s capital.“The most difficult part was getting the aid out of the warehouse once it is in Yemen,” the aid worker was quoted as saying.World’s worst humanitarian crisisYemen’s war began after Houthi rebels took control of the country’s capital at the end of 2014, forcing the government to flee. In support of the government a coalition of states, led by Saudi Arabia, launched an offensive against the rebels. At least 10,000 Y...

Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - June 28, 2018 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Maged Srour Tags: Aid Armed Conflicts Crime & Justice Featured Headlines Health Human Rights Humanitarian Emergencies Middle East & North Africa Migration & Refugees TerraViva United Nations Source Type: news