Yemen’s Minister of Health and Environment in the Sanaa government, Ali Shaiban, condemned on Thursday the UN Security Council’s recent renewal of sanctions on Yemen, saying the measures tighten the blockade and directly endanger the lives of thousands of patients. He described the continued obstruction of Sanaa International Airport as a crime against humanity and a blatant violation of humanitarian and international law.

Shaiban’s remarks come as the Security Council recently voted to extend its Yemen sanctions framework for another year under Resolution 2801. The resolution, adopted by 13 members with Russia and China abstaining, maintains asset freezes, travel bans, and arms-embargo measures, while also renewing the mandate of the UN Panel of Experts. Authorities in Sanaa have rejected the decision as an extension of collective punishment, arguing that the sanctions now serve as political retaliation for Yemen’s support to the people of Gaza.

In remarks to the Yemeni News Agency (SABA), Shaiban said that the sanctions have effectively sealed Sanaa International Airport. He stated that the closure of the airport, "which was targeted by the Zionist enemy," has led to the disappearance or severe shortage of medicines and medical supplies that require special transport conditions such as refrigeration.

He explained that the blockade and airport shutdown have deprived thousands of patients of essential treatments, including medications for kidney transplant recipients, blood derivatives, hormonal and immune therapies, resuscitation and anesthesia drugs, anticoagulants, and a wide range of diagnostic solutions.

Shaiban renewed the Sanaa government’s call for urgent action to allow life-saving medicines and medical equipment to enter through Sanaa International Airport. He urged the United Nations and humanitarian organizations "not to turn a blind eye to this catastrophic tragedy that has already claimed thousands of lives and continues to threaten thousands more."

He stressed that the current situation "speaks for itself," describing the scale of the crisis caused by depriving Yemen of vital medical supplies needed to keep patients alive, particularly those suffering from chronic illnesses. According to the minister, "the forces of aggression show no humanitarian or moral considerations" as they impose an unprecedented blockade on the population amid "shameful international and UN silence."

Shaiban noted that the indirect consequences of the blockade far exceed the visible damage, saying it is "impossible to quantify" the harm caused by denying citizens access to medicines and basic health services. He pointed to rising deaths from epidemics and communicable diseases, increased child and maternal mortality, and the inability of patients with chronic conditions to access essential medications. He added that the health sector is unable to expand operations or meet the needs of Yemen’s population due to the dual impact of sanctions and continued military aggression.

The suspension of flights from Sanaa Airport has also prevented thousands of patients from traveling abroad for treatment, while the lack of air transport for temperature-sensitive medicines requires immediate UN intervention. Shaiban described the resumption of medical cargo flights as an "urgent humanitarian necessity to save the lives of thousands of patients, especially children."

"Israel" has targeted Sanaa International Airport multiple times since October 7, 2023. The most significant strikes occurred in May 2024, when two bombardments on May 6 and May 28 crippled aviation operations.

Yemen Under Siege

Yemen’s health system was already in a state of collapse before the latest wave of Western and Israeli aggression. WHO figures show that 17.8 million Yemenis now require health assistance, more than half the country’s population, while millions survive only through humanitarian aid amid soaring poverty and food insecurity.  Malnutrition has reached critical and widespread levels, with aid organizations reporting that some coastal regions are facing hunger indicators even worse than those seen during earlier phases of the war.

The country is also still grappling with one of the largest cholera outbreaks in modern history. Since 2016, Yemen has recorded more than 2.5 million suspected cases, including over 22,000 new infections reported between January and May 2024 alone. Children, the displaced, and the poorest households bear the heaviest burden, as preventable diseases continue to claim lives in a health system starved of medicines, equipment, and electricity.

The situation has sharply deteriorated following Yemen’s decision to impose a naval blockade on "Israel" in defense of the people of Gaza. In response, the United States, the United Kingdom, and "Israel" have expanded their military campaign against Yemen, launching hundreds of air and missile strikes since January 2024. Israeli warplanes have repeatedly targeted key civilian infrastructure, including airports, ports, and power stations, while US and British forces have struck Yemeni territory under the banner of "protecting shipping," a justification widely denounced as a cover for punishing Yemen’s pro-Palestine stance.

According to Yemeni officials, this US-Israeli escalation has tightened the blockade on the country, further strangling supply routes, disrupting fuel deliveries, and blocking the entry of life-saving medicines that rely on cold-chain air transport. Health authorities warn that these compounded attacks have deepened a humanitarian catastrophe already described by the United Nations as one of the worst anywhere in the world. 

Read more: Ansar Allah condemn UN sanctions on Yemen, reject Gaza US-led resol.