Yemen: Key hospital on the brink of closure

A hospital that serves an estimated three million people in and around the Yemeni capital is facing imminent closure.

Fuel shortages and a lack of medical supplies could force the Al Sabeen Hospital in Sana’a to shut its doors imminently.

This would have a devastating impact.

The hospital, which Save the Children supports, is the main healthcare facility for children and pregnant women in the area.

Running out of supplies

The hospital’s Deputy Manager, Halel Al Bahri, said the hospital has entirely run out of essential supplies, such as IV fluid and anesthetic.

On top of this, the hospital has nearly run out of fuel to run the electricity generators.

If the hospital is forced to close, hundreds of children will have to stop receiving treatment.

Lives at risk

“Children and women will die,” Mr Al Bahri said.

“We are coordinating closely with the other functioning hospitals in the city, sharing our stocks so that everyone has a bit of everything.

“But everyone is running low now and there isn’t enough to go around. The situation is absolutely critical.

“We don’t have time to wait for stocks and fuel to come in. If this hospital closes, children and women will die. The numbers of those who die will be much higher than those being killed by the bombs and the fighting.”

An escalating crisis

Across Yemen, 15.2 million people are lacking access to basic healthcare – an increase of 40% since March. And more than half a million children are expected to suffer severe acute malnutrition this year.

Edward Santiago, Save the Children’s Country Director in Yemen, said, “Civilians are paying the price for the war in Yemen, which over the course of five months has plunged the country into a devastating humanitarian crisis.

“The ongoing violence and de-facto blockade means we are struggling to get sufficient aid to those who need it most. The closure of Al Sabeen Hospital would be absolutely devastating for children.”

Please donate now to help save lives.