MSF teams working in the Sadaa, Yemen, have been evacuated due to heavy fighting. Access to the conflict regions is prohibited and there is no news available on civilian casualties or deaths, but heavy weapons and aerial bombardments are being used. There are also worries that access to hospitals and clinics for injured people and medical staff is a problem because of the fighting.
MSF surgeons go to work in Haydan Hospital, Yemen, 2008.
Photo by MSF
Between 10 May and 8 June, MSF teams treated 56 injured people, in often difficult conditions. Staff were forced to evacuate on 27 May but managed to take enough equipment to set up an improvised treatment room in the village shop. Even when teams have been able to reach injured people, getting them to treatment has proved hard and often impossible.
Because of the fighting, large numbers of displaced people have been moving out of the conflict zone with over 35,000 arriving in Saada and over 1,000 families coming in to Al Malaheed. MSF teams have unfortunately not been unable to get access to these people for security reasons.
At some projects, local staff continue to provide medical care for patients managing to reach the respective hospitals. MSF also continues to negotiate with all sides to obtain access to areas which may contain injured people. Discussions with military leaders and all other authorities in Saada have so far not produced results and other talks continue at the highest level in Sanaa.