Health Ministry Warns Against Politicization of Int’l Organizations, Donors of Humanitarian Work in Yemen

Sana’a – Saba:

The Ministry of Health and Environment warned of the depletion of safe vaccine and medicine stocks and the disruption of their supply chains, threatening patients’ lives as a result of the politicization of international organizations and donors of humanitarian work.

In a statement received by the Yemeni News Agency (Saba), the Ministry affirmed that the repercussions of the politicization of humanitarian work by international organizations and the suspension of operational funding have led to the suspension of life-saving health activities and the closure of health facilities.

The Ministry deemed the suspension of operational funding for healthcare centers and units by UN agencies and humanitarian donors a war crime due to their lack of impartiality and politicization of humanitarian work, which has led to patient deprivation and increased morbidity and mortality rates.

The Ministry explained that international organizations and donors have suspended incentives for more than 15,000 healthcare workers, halted support for 15,000 volunteers and community workers, deprived 2,207 health facilities of operational funding, and stopped funding for medications intended for distribution to 2,317 health facilities, camps, and mobile clinics, even after the medications had already been purchased.

The ministry stated that vaccinations were suspended at 2,317 facilities, camps, and mobile clinics, and that funding exceeding $48 million for medicines and supplies was suspended in just one year. It also reported the suspension of over $16.3 million in operational funding and over $14.1 million worth of medical equipment. Furthermore, the provision of preventative and therapeutic nutritional supplies was halted at more than 3,000 health facilities serving over one million children.

The ministry also noted the cessation of support for therapeutic feeding centers, which save more than 30,000 children from death annually, and the reduction of support for blood banks, central laboratories, and response teams responsible for epidemic surveillance and response. According to the statement, fuel supplies to all hospitals and support for medications for chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, have been suspended. Rehabilitation projects at hospitals have been halted after implementation, leaving them incomplete and damaged. Examples include the dialysis unit at the Republican Hospital in Saada and the heart center at Al-Thawra Hospital in the capital, Sana’a, along with several other projects. The distribution of vital, life-saving medical equipment has also been stopped after its purchase, and efforts to combat epidemics such as cholera have been curtailed.

The Ministry emphasized that, based on indicators and figures, this decline is not due to national authorities failing to fulfill their duties, but rather to the lack of impartiality and politicization of humanitarian work by organizations. Relief and medical aid is being subjected to the political and security agendas of donor countries, instead of being directed according to the four fundamental humanitarian principles: humanity, neutrality, independence, and impartiality.

The Ministry of Health demanded the immediate lifting of the blockade and the reopening of ports and airports to medical and treatment supply chains. The Ministry called upon the international community and humanitarian organizations to take urgent action, fulfill their obligations, and assume their responsibilities to address humanitarian crises, restore support for health and nutrition programs, and respond swiftly to emerging disease threats, in accordance with the principles of neutrality, independence, and humanity. It stressed that humanitarian aid should not be used as a tool for political pressure or arbitrary restrictions, as this constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law and contravenes all international norms, laws, and conventions.

The Ministry reminded the international community that the right to life, health, food, and medicine is an absolute human right that cannot be violated under any political or military pretext. It emphasized that lifting the blockade and allowing the entry of humanitarian aid is a collective legal, moral, and humanitarian responsibility incumbent upon the entire international community and humanitarian organizations.