Sanaa calls for expanding destinations, increasing flights to help over 100,000 patients

SANAA, July 11 (YPA) – The Ministry of Health in the Sanaa government called on Tuesday for increasing the number flights and expanding designations through Sanaa International Airport to alleviate the suffering of more than 100,000 patients who need treatment abroad.

Officials at the ministry confirmed that the restriction of flights via Sanaa Airport to one destination, which is “Jordan”, and the limited number of flights exacerbate the humanitarian crisis and the suffering of patients.

Head of the Supreme Medical Committee in Sanaa, Dr. Motahar Al-Darwish, said, “Only 10% of the patients who cannot be treated in Yemen are able to travel in light of the siege on Sanaa airport, and the only destination is Jordan.”

Dr. Al-Darwish pointed out that the cost of treatment abroad ranges between $30,000 and $100,000, and these amounts cannot be afforded by patients, while the Saudi-led coalition is preventing medical personnel from entering Yemen to provide assistance and save lives of thousands of patients who are unable to travel.

He stated that 60,000 patients who cannot be treated in Yemen are registered with the Supreme Medical Committee and the same number is in medical centers, and the number is increasing with the continuation of the siege.

For his part, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Public Health for the Population Sector, Najib Al-Qabati, confirmed that the needs of the health sector as a result of nine years of blockade are not addressed by a single destination and specific and restricted flights from Sanaa Airport.

YPA