Yemeni patients return home after receiving treatment in Jordan

WHO expresses gratitude to Kingdom for hosting patients

By JT - Oct 06,2020 - Last updated at Oct 06,2020

Yemeni children who were airlifted to Jordan to undergo treatment for critical illnesses earlier this year, arrive with their families at the Sanaa airport Sunday (AFP photo)

AMMAN — The World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative for Yemen Altaf Musani, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen Lise Grande, and UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths on Sunday welcomed the return of patients who have been receiving medical care in Jordan for diseases and conditions which cannot be treated in Yemen.

“It’s wonderful to see patients coming home after receiving treatment,” said Grande. “These are very special people. They were selected for the first flights of the medical air bridge in February because they were suffering from cancer, kidney disease and congenital anomalies and couldn’t get the help they needed in Yemen.”

“Because of the war, blockades and the breakdown of the health system, their only hope was to leave the country,” said Grande, according to a WHO statement.

WHO and the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen facilitated the flights in collaboration with local health authorities. The UN is grateful to the Yemeni authorities for their collaboration, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for hosting the patients and the Arab Republic of Egypt for their willingness to assist, as well as to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its assistance in the initiative, the statement said.

"We are grateful to everyone who collaborated in making this medical air bridge happen. However, opening the Sana'a airport is one of the sustainable ways for Yemenis to receive life-saving medical treatment abroad,"said Griffiths.

Millions of Yemenis struggle daily to access healthcare. Health partners are continuing to support health authorities to respond to increasing health needs, including the COVID-19 pandemic, read the statement.

Yemen remains the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Nearly 80 per cent of the population — over 24 million people — require some form of humanitarian assistance and protection. Only $1.3 billion of the $3.2 billion needed in 2020 for the humanitarian response has been received, the statement said.

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