Formation of a Humanitarian Medical Airlift for Yemenis to Receive Treatment
YemenExtra
M.A.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry and the United Nations to establish a humanitarian medical airlift.
The memorandum of understanding includes the provision of medical transport for patients in critical conditions to receive treatment abroad through scheduled United Nations flights for six months beginning September 18, 2018.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Foreign Minister Hisham Sharaf Abdullah and United Nations Resident Representative Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen Lise Grande.
Minister Sharaf said that the memorandum of understanding comes as a first step to alleviate the suffering of patients in need of treatment abroad, which were prevented from traveling by the Saudi-led coalition through Sana’a International Airport.
He stressed that this step does not in any way mean delaying the demand to reopen Sana’a International Airport in front of commercial and civil flights, pointing out that this step is purely humanitarian, since the air bridge covers only very limited cases, but it is necessary in light of the continued Saudi American siege.
The Foreign Minister reiterated that the reopening of Sana’a International Airport is a sovereign human right for Yemen and its people, in order to transport Minister Zakaria al-Shami confirmed the readiness of Sana’a International Airport to receive all flights if the ban was approved.
Meanwhile, he reiterated that the reopening of Sana’a International Airport is a sovereign human right for Yemen and its people, in order to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people, especially patients, students and businessmen.
“Sana’a International Airport is ready to operate in accordance with the international conditions and standards agreed upon by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO),” the Transport Minister said at a meeting in Sana’a for the emergency committee of the General Authority for Civil Aviation and Meteorology.
Al-Shami pointed out that one of the priorities of the UN envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffith, is to open Sana’a International Airport because of its great importance to all segments of Yemeni society.
He also stressed the readiness of the ministry to provide the necessary facilities and services for all flights to and from Sana’a airport, the main lifeline of the Republic of Yemen. He pointed out that the airport is ready to receive any international technical team to inspect the readiness of the airport in order to receive flights and technical equipment to provide services to travelers.
The meeting, chaired by the Minister of Transport, discussed the requirements of operating Sana’a International Airport in the event of lifting the ban according to the International Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The meeting was attended by Undersecretary of the Ministry of Transport for Aviation Sector Abdullah Al-Ansi, Chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation and Meteorology Dr. Mohammed Abdul Qader and a number of officials of the General Authority of Civil Aviation.