The Elders urge end of Yemen blockade to avert further humanitarian crisis

This news release originally appeared on the website of The Elders.

The Elders today called on Saudi Arabia and its coalition partners to lift the land, sea, and air blockade of Yemen to avert an escalation of the humanitarian disaster in the war-stricken country.

They shared the concerns of the United Nations and relief agencies that closing aid channels aggravates the already dire humanitarian situation in Yemen, where millions of people are at risk of famine, cholera, and other health crises.

The Elders were particularly alarmed at reports that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was unable to get clearance to ship chlorine tablets from Saudi Arabia into Yemen, noting that over 900,000 cases of cholera have been reported since April 2017.

The Elders also condemned all military actions in Yemen and the region that target or threaten civilians.

Kofi Annan, Chair of The Elders, said:

“The civilian population of Yemen is paying a horrendous price for the war waged by rival factions and their foreign backers. All parties to the conflict must allow complete and unfettered humanitarian access to those in need.”