News - Yemen: The head of the Supreme Medical Committee, Dr. Mutaher Al-Darwish, has raised alarm over the escalating number of Yemeni patients in urgent need of treatment abroad, reporting that the official count has surpassed 200,000.

In a statement to Almasirah on Tuesday, Al-Darwish highlighted that cancer, in all its forms, leads the list of conditions requiring overseas treatment, attributing this to the US-Saudi aggression and the coalition's use of internationally banned weapons.

He emphasized that the only lasting solution to this crisis is the complete and unrestricted reopening of Sana'a International Airport, asserting that adding a single flight to Jordan is insufficient, especially given the coalition's delays in opening routes to India and Egypt.

"The US-Saudi aggression is held fully responsible for the lives of millions of Yemeni patients," Al-Darwish added, condemning the prevention of foreign medical teams from providing assistance as a humanitarian crime against the Yemeni people.

He urged the international community to pressure the coalition to lift the siege on Yemen, reopen Sana'a International Airport, and facilitate the travel of patients in dire need of life-saving treatment.

On August 9, 2016, the Saudi-led coalition imposed restrictions on Yemen’s airspace, closing Sana'a Airport to commercial flights. This action trapped millions in a war zone, hindered the movement of humanitarian and commercial goods, and caused thousands to die waiting for treatment. The restriction also nearly halted commercial cargo, including medical supplies, causing medicine prices to soar.

Despite the truce, the aggression has limited flights to Jordan and failed to show seriousness in bringing peace to Yemen.

The crisis at Sana'a Airport has resurfaced recently with Yemen Airways management in Aden issuing a decision to transfer sales revenue accounts from Sana'a and to shut down the ticket issuance system for Sana'a. This comes as the Ministry of Transport in Sana'a announced corrective measures, including rescheduling flights and maintaining all the planes there.