Fuel Ship Detention Deteriorates Yemen’s Humanitarian Crisis
By: Mona Zaid
The service sectors, hospitals and vital centers in capital Sana’a, sounded the alarm due to the continued detention of oil derivative ships by Saudi-led coalition countries.
Yemen is currently witnessing one of the highest rates of chronic malnutrition in the world as a result of the blockade practiced by the Saudi coalition countries through imposing arbitrary restrictions on imports of the basic requirements for the continuation of life in terms of oil derivatives, food and medicine.
The coalition’s arbitrary practices by preventing the entry of oil derivative ships loaded with foodstuffs, medicines, supplies, medical equipment, oil derivatives and domestic gas reflects the level of degeneration reached by the coalition countries.
The oil derivatives crisis as one of the imbalances that the economy suffers from, the repercussions of which are reflected in the increase in Yemenis’ suffering and bitterness of livelihood from time to time, and this has negative impact on various fixed and temporary-income segments.
The repercussions of the Saudi coalition’s detention of oil derivative ships on the deteriorating economic situation in the country. It explained that 50 percent of the economic movement has stopped in general and in particular in the industrial, agricultural, and commercial sectors, and internal transport between cities.
The continued holding of fuel ships also led to a stifling crisis in the means of transportation compared to the pre-crisis period.
A lack of fuel has left the population struggling to reach markets, access health facilities and other vital services. Meanwhile, people are queuing for up to three days to refuel their cars or forced to turn to the parallel market where prices are 180 percent higher.
These acute fuel shortages threaten the availability of clean water and electricity supply. Health facilities that rely on fuel for generators are without power.
Higher fuel prices also mean higher food prices at a time when over 16 million food insecure Yemenis are already struggling to afford basic foods, all coming together and culminating in another shock that will further heighten the fragility of those most vulnerable.
The fuel shortages are yet another threat to a population already on the brink. The specter of famine grows by the day and the cycle of hunger continues. Action must be taken to protect the lives and livelihoods of Yemeni civilians.
Dr. Mutahar Al-Mroni, director of the Health Office said “The continued holding of oil derivative ships is a major reason for the retreat of many basic service sectors, especially the health sector, as a number of hospitals and health centers indeed stopped providing services to patients. “
Al-Mroni held the coalition countries and the United Nations fully responsible for the humanitarian catastrophe that threatens the Yemeni people and the conditions that will result from the continuation of the Saudi coalition to hold ships of fuel, food and pharmaceutical products.
He called on the international community and the United Nations to carry out their humanitarian duty to intervene urgently to pressure the Coalition to allow the entry of fuel vessels.