YEMEN-TAIZ/HOSPITAL Civilians pay heavy price in Yemen's Taiz as health care collapses

Record ID: 140552

  • Title: YEMEN-TAIZ/HOSPITAL Civilians pay heavy price in Yemen's Taiz as health care collapses
  • Date: 1st September 2015
  • Summary: TAIZ, YEMEN (SEPTEMBER 1, 2015) (REUTERS) PEOPLE ARRIVING AT RAWDHA HOSPITAL IN TAIZ CITY PEOPLE INSIDE HOSPITAL VARIOUS OF PATIENTS INSIDE HOSPITAL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MEDICAL STAFF IN RAWDHA HOSPITAL, ABBAS AL MAQATARI, SAYING: "We had intravenous fluids from Sanaa but those who used to deliver them were kidnapped, along with the drips that were in the field hospital in Taiz." PEOPLE INSIDE HOSPITAL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MEDICAL STAFF IN RAWDHA HOSPITAL, ABBAS AL MAQATARI, SAYING: "These intravenous fluids were specifically for patients who underwent bypass surgery and were in need for blood thinners." VARIOUS OF GARBAGE ON STREET WOMAN HOLDING BABY VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ON STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MANAGER OF SAFWAH HOSPITAL, DR. MOURTADA AL-HUISH, SAYING: "The hospitals are experiencing acute shortages of intravenous fluids, one of the basic ingredients for the treatment of dengue fever. Because of the security situation and the deteriorating situation in the provinces, there is a lack of medical supplies in the warehouse. " PEOPLE IN HOSPITAL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MANAGER OF SAFWAH HOSPITAL, DR. MOURTADA AL-HUISH, SAYING: "We need a quick intervention of aid organisations and institutions to save this city from an epidemic spreading inside the city. The expected numbers based on current numbers are showing an increase in the number of casualties." VARIOUS OF GARBAGE ON STREETS
  • Embargoed: 16th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Yemen
  • Country: Yemen
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA89VHP4PBQWQ920LCXZMYOKDD4
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Hospitals in Taiz are facing a shortage of basic medical supplies as dozens of civilians have been killed in the past two weeks in Yemen's southwestern city of Taiz, according to hospital staff.
    A collapsing health care service, along with an outbreak of dengue fever, are compounding a dire humanitarian situation.
    Yemen's third-largest city has become the latest frontline in a five-month war between northern Houthi militiamen and supporters of Yemen's exiled government, which is backed by the West and Saudi Arabia.
    "We had intravenous fluids from Sanaa but those who used to deliver them were kidnapped, along with the drips that were in the field hospital in Taiz," said Abbas al-Maqatri, a manager at Rawdha hospital.
    "These intravenous fluids were specifically for patients who underwent bypass surgery and were in need for blood thinners," he added.
    Dr. Mourtada al-Huish is a manager at Safwah hospital, another hospital in Taiz. He said hospitals are lacking basic medical supplies that are needed to treat dengue fever.
    "The hospitals are experiencing acute shortages of intravenous fluids, one of the basic ingredients for the treatment of dengue fever. Because of the security situation and the deteriorating situation in the provinces, there is a lack of medical supplies in the warehouse," al-Huish said.
    Cases in Taiz of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral disease that can be fatal, soared from 145 in mid-August to 421 as of August 25, according to the World Health Organization.
    "We need a quick intervention of aid organisations and institutions to save this city from an epidemic spreading inside the city. The expected numbers based on current numbers are showing an increase in the number of casualties," he added.
    Nearly 100 civilians have been killed in the past two weeks in Taiz.
    The toll of 95 includes 53 civilians who died in Saudi-led air strikes on Taiz on Aug 21 that also hit 20 homes. The remainder were killed by suspected Houthi-affiliated snipers and shelling, U.N. human rights spokeswoman Cecile Pouilly told a news briefing on Tuesday (September 1).
    Saudi Arabia in March launched a military offensive against the Tehran-allied Houthis, suspecting Shi'ite power Iran of trying to gain a foothold in the Arabian peninsula.
    Since the conflict escalated in Yemen on 26th March, U.N. monitors have documented 6,631 civilian casualties, including 2,112 deaths.
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