UNICEF sends private plane to transport UN staff’s child for treatment outside Yemen

SANAA, July 21 (YPA) – UNICEF has sent a private plane to evacuate a child belonging to one of the United Nations Children’s Fund staff  from Yemen, while  thousands of Yemeni children suffering from incurable illnesses that require their travel abroad’

Ministry of Health in the National Salvation Government praised the “humanitarian” initiative, but demanded the evacuation of seven children with more deadly diseases, pointing out that thousands of children are suffering as a result of the siege imposed by Saudi-led coalition  and they are in need of emergency care.

In a memorandum sent by the Ministry of Health to the Humanitarian Coordinator, the ministry expressed its hope that the seven cases would be transferred, along with the child for which a private plane had been sent.

A ministry of health source confirmed that UNICEF had rejected the Ministry’s request and threatened to stop its activities in Yemen if the Ministry of Health in Sana’a insisted on the transfer of the seven children abroad.

About two months ago, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator Lize Grande had sent a private plane to Sanaa International Airport to transport her private driver out of Yemen because he was infected with coronavirus, while  it ignored repeated distress calls from Sanaa to lift the blockade on the airport to transfer critical cases, and a very large number of people died.

E.M