Following the increasing tension and the fighting in Razeh town in the past few days, last Thursday 15th of October MSF had taken the decision to evacuate a part of its staff and reduce its medical activities in Razeh rural hospital. However, in the last hours the situation has further deteriorated, as rockets hit repeatedly hospital’s buildings, where medical staff and patients were resent.
Despite the guarantees from both parties at war, minimal safety conditions needed to continue our medical work are not insured anymore in Razeh. Médecins Sans Frontières decided therefore to suspend its activities in this hospital, where MSF has been working since December, 2007. Once more, MSF urges all sides of this conflict to respect health care facilities, medical staff and patients.
MSF expresses its deep concern over the health situation in Saada governorate, as access to health care for the population is increasingly shrinking week after week. MSF has been working in Saada governorate in northern Yemen since September 2007, providing medical care to the population affected by the conflict between government forces and Al Houthi group that began in 2004. MSF supports two MoH hospitals: one in Shara’a (Razeh district) and another one in Al Talh (Saher district). In both hospitals, primary and secondary care is provided free of charge, including Emergency consultations, hospitalisations and gyneco/obstetrical and surgical activities.