Press Release, 13 February 2016

Sana’a/Geneva – A team from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has managed to enter the city of Taiz, one of the worst-affected places in Yemen’s fighting, and deliver life-saving medical supplies. Although the organisation has been assisting people in the governorate of Taiz for the last 10 month, its teams had been unable to enter the city itself since August last year.

“This is a breakthrough and we hope that today’s operation will be followed by many more to come,” said head of the ICRC delegation in Yemen Antoine Grand.

Around 200,000 people live in the city of Taiz, which has been the scene of heavy fighting ever since the ongoing conflict started. Living conditions for civilians in the city have continued to worsen, with residents facing daily insecurity and a constant struggle for medical care, food and water.

“We have provided three tonnes of medical supplies including surgical items, intravenous fluids and anesthetic supplies that will help treat hundreds of wounded. Essential medicines and supplies for pregnant women were also provided. All of these items are in high demand by the hospitals in Taiz that continue to receive a daily influx of wounded people”, added Mr. Grand.

The medical supplies were delivered by the ICRC teams to four hospitals in the city.

The ICRC has had a sub delegation in Taiz since 2012. It currently has 18 staff members working therein including 4 international and 14 Yemeni staff. This comes on top of the 250 staff it has in the rest of the country in Sanaa, Saada and Aden.