Yemen's war has left thousands of critically ill patients unable to access medical care abroad due to ongoing airport closures and air attacks.
A re-ignition of Yemen's war has left the chronically sick who need treatment trapped in the country. Rajaa Ghirsan, a 50-year-old from Sanaa, requires a costly medical device to breathe and needs an overseas operation, but airport closures prevent her from leaving. Sanaa International Airport, the main air link for northern Yemen, has been repeatedly closed since 2016, with recent Israeli air attacks and government strikes further disrupting flights.
Houthi officials estimate that over 400,000 patients, including 250,000 needing overseas treatment, have been affected by the closures. Shortages of medicine, including 12 cancer drugs, have worsened, impacting more than 125,000 cancer patients and 40,000 with blood disorders. Aden airport, the alternative for northern patients, has also been attacked, limiting evacuation options.
Why it matters
The closure of Yemen's airports directly impacts hundreds of thousands of patients who rely on overseas medical treatment, worsening a fragile health system.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.
What to watch
The resumption of regular flights from Sanaa and Aden airports will determine whether critically ill patients can access life-saving care abroad.
This section reflects Dumpling editorial interpretation and is provided for context only.