Health Minister: Women, children directly targeted by Saudi-led coalition
SANAA, Aug. 25 (YPA) – The Minister of Public Health and Population, Dr. Taha Al-Mutawakel, on Thursday confirmed that women and children were directly targeted by the Saudi-led coalition countries, which caused long-term psychological and physical suffering for this segment.
During his meeting in Sanaa with UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Hanan Suleiman, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Adele Khader, and the organization’s delegation that visited Al-Sabeen Hospital for Maternity and Childhood, Dr. Al-Mutawakel explained the coalition caused the death and injury of more than 43,700 women and children during seven years.
The Health Minister affirmed that the Saudi-led coalition airstrikes caused a partial and permanent disability for 16,000 women and 20,000 children, who need health care, referring to the increase in cases of fetal malformations resulting from the raids and cluster bombs.
Dr. Al-Mutawakel valued the role of UNICEF in unifying visions and joint work with the Ministry to contribute to alleviating the suffering of the Yemeni people and providing the necessary needs. He reviewed the necessary health sector needs for childhood to ensure the protection of newborns and children from deadly and life-threatening diseases.
The Minister of Health urged the need to move relief work in Yemen from the level of urgent medical services to future investment in medical personnel and health centers.
For her part, Director of Al-Sabeen Hospital, Dr. Magda Al-Khatib, explained that the hospital provides its services despite the challenges imposed by the coalition aggression, appreciating the role of UNICEF in supporting the hospital and noting the difficulties facing the hospital.
In turn, the Deputy Executive Director of UNICEF and the Regional Director praised the efforts of the management of the Al-Sabeen Hospital and the level of medical services and health care it provides.
They confirmed that Yemen is one of the countries that receive the organization’s attention, as it is witnessing the worst humanitarian disaster in the world.
YPA