Top SPC Member meets with ICRC President Peter Maurer

SANAA, Oct. 17 (YPA) – Member of the Supreme Political Council Mohammed Ali al-Houthi on Wednesday called on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to evacuate wounded people from the city of Ad Durayhimi District, hand over Yemeni prisoners of French nationality, and receive al-Qaeda prisoners who have finished their sentences and return them to their areas.

The ICRC will continue to have all the facilities to carry out its mission in Yemen, al-Houthi said when he received the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Sanaa on Wednesday.

However, he called on the committee not to disturb its role.

He said: “We want the commission to carry out its mission and not to disturb its role, as happened in not removing the wounded from the city of Ad Durayhimi District, even though the committee has the right to evacuate even the military”.

He urged the ICRC to “play an active role in the implementation of the Sweden Agreement on the Exchange of Prisoners”.

Mohammed Ali al-Houthi indicated that there are prisoners of Yemeni origin of French nationality arrested years ago on suspicion of belonging to al-Qaeda requested to be returned to France.

He also called on the committee to “receive and return al-Qaeda elements from the occupied governorates who have spent their time in their areas”.

“There are other elements associated with bombings and assassinations that are being prosecuted by the judiciary, which is an independent authority,” Mohammed al-Houthi confirmed.

For his part, Speaker of the Shura Council, Mohammed Hussein Al-Eidros addressed the suffering of citizens Ad Durayhimi city of Hodeidah province as a result of the siege imposed on them by the coalition and its militants 14 months ago, and the prohibition of food and medicine, as well as the treatment of the sick and wounded.

“The coalition of aggression continues to increase the suffering of citizens even in areas of its control,” he added.

He expressed his hope that the Red Cross will “visit prisons in the southern provinces and compare them with prisons in unoccupied areas, to know about the big difference in dealing”.

“The core of the ICRC’s work is to help and protect the wounded, including the military,” ICRC President Peter Maurer said at the meeting.

He added: “We appreciate access to detention centers and we agree that what happened in Dhamar is very unfortunate and there must be an investigation into the use of this information.

“The bombing authority should also know what locations it is bombing and where it is targeted, especially civilian areas,” he stated.

“The efforts made by the ICRC in Yemen in previous years for a dialogue with the parties concerned on the conduct of hostilities,” Said Maurer, head of the Red Cross Committee, referring to the Saudi-led coalition .

He says “I look forward to”build on this relationship”.

E.M