The Ministry of Public Health and Population confirmed that the number of cancer patients has doubled in Yemen due to the use of prohibited weapons by the US-Saudi aggression.
The Minister of Health, Dr. Taha al-Mutawakil, said during a World Cancer Day event that “Yemen is witnessing a great crisis, and the number of patients has doubled as a result of the weapons of aggression against our country.”
He explained that more than 60,000 cases are in oncology centers, with a shortage of medicines, equipment and diagnostics, noting that the number of children with leukemia is rising rapidly.
“Over 3,000 children with cancer are at risk of dying as a result of the imposed US-Saudi siege, deprived of the right to receive the necessary health care,” he added.
He confirmed that Sana’a airport is still closed, and as a result the patients cannot go abroad for treatment, while at the same time, due to the blockade, the entry of medicines and necessary supplies is impossible.
“Nuclear medicine, which is needed to treat cancer patients is prevented from entering by the coalition,” he continued, noting that “we have called on the United Nations to supervise the entry of these materials.”
Minister Al-Mutawakil stressed that “the opening of Sana’a International Airport is a humanitarian need.”
For his part, the CEO of the Cancer Control Fund, Abdulsalam al-Madani, said: “We commemorate this day and our country is still suffering from the emergence of many cases as a result of US-Saudi aggression and the use of prohibited weapons.”
Al-Madani pointed out that the aggression “continues to prevent entry to atomic scanning devices, which can only be reached through Sana’a Airport, and through it we can alleviate the suffering of cancer patients.”
He stressed that “there are many cases that we have received from many areas, such as Saada, Hajjah, and other governorates, where prohibited cluster bombs have been thrown and people are suffering from cancer.”
“Today we are opening the Oncology Surgery Unit and there are qualified cadres as we seek to alleviate the suffering under the imposed siege, appealing to the World Health Organization to play its active role in providing its humanitarian services,” Al-Madani added.
In turn, the representative of the World Health Organization in Yemen, Adham Abdel Moneim, explained that “the number of cancer patients in Yemen is on a frightening increase, and we need a lot of efforts and support,” pledging to work to do the utmost in providing services.
