The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) called for a 24-hour ceasefire in Yemen to allow for the delivery of urgently-needed medical aid, reported Reuters. Separately, Russia proposed a ceasefire, circulating a resolution draft at the United Nations Security Council meeting.
Three shipments of aid were reportedly blocked by the Saudi-led air campaign. A team of four medical personel, as well as enough medical supplies to treat 3,000 people are ready to be delivered to Yemeni medical facilities.
An ICRC statement demanded that “all air, land and sea routes must be opened without delay for at least 24 hours to enable help to reach people cut off after more than a week of intense air strikes and fierce ground fighting nationwide.”
The hospitals are facing medical shortages and the violence prevents the injured from accessing medical care. "For the wounded, their chances of survival depend on action within hours, not days," said Robert Mardini, head of operations for the ICRC in the Near and Middle East.
Saudi Ministry of Defence spokesman General Ahmed al-Asiri, however, denied the blockage. He asserted that the shipments would arrive on Sunday. “We want the humanitarian aid to reach civilians, not the militias,” he said.
The appeal preceded a United Nations Security Council meeting to discuss the Yemen crisis. During the meeting, Russia echoed the demands of the ICRC, proposing a U.N. resolution for a ceasefire in Yemen. The Russian proposal orders the coalition to pause airstrikes to allow foreigners to safely evacuate Yemen.
The Saudi-led coalition launched an air campaign on the Houthi forces on March 26. Medics say the airstrikes have killed over 185 people and have injured approximately 1,200 more.
