The Ministry of Health reports 20 dead and injured, including doctors, due to Houthi shelling of Al-Suqiya Health Center in Lahij.
- This assault was carried out by Houthi militias, which are supported by the Iranian regime.
- This incident represents a blatant violation of humanitarian and international laws that protect health facilities, their workers, and patients.
- The ministry highlighted that such attacks threaten the lives of patients, the injured, and healthcare providers who fulfill their humanitarian duty to save lives and deliver medical services without discrimination.
- It reaffirmed that health facilities and medical personnel enjoy special protection under international humanitarian law.
Health Ministry Condemns Attack on Al-Suqiya Health Center
The Ministry of Public Health and Population condemned the criminal attack on the Al-Suqiya Health Center in the Al-Mudharabah District of Lahij Governorate. This assault was carried out by Houthi militias, which are supported by the Iranian regime.
Casualties and Violations
In a statement received by the Yemeni News Agency (Saba), the ministry reported that the initial toll from this attack resulted in the deaths of five individuals, including three medical staff members working at the center. Additionally, fifteen others sustained injuries, seven of whom were also part of the medical team. This incident represents a blatant violation of humanitarian and international laws that protect health facilities, their workers, and patients.
Serious Implications of Targeting Health Facilities
The statement emphasized that targeting health facilities constitutes a serious crime and a direct violation of the principle of safeguarding medical establishments from armed conflicts. It also represents a direct assault on civilians’ right to access healthcare. The ministry highlighted that such attacks threaten the lives of patients, the injured, and healthcare providers who fulfill their humanitarian duty to save lives and deliver medical services without discrimination.
Condolences and Calls for Action
The ministry expressed its condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured. It reaffirmed that health facilities and medical personnel enjoy special protection under international humanitarian law. Any attack or threat against them cannot be justified under any circumstances due to the severe humanitarian and health repercussions, especially in areas already suffering from limited medical services and resources.
International Community’s Responsibility
The Ministry of Health called on the international community, the United Nations, and humanitarian organizations, particularly the World Health Organization and the International Committee of the Red Cross, to clearly condemn these violations. It urged them to fulfill their legal and humanitarian responsibilities by protecting health facilities and their workers, investigating this crime, holding those responsible accountable, and ensuring that such attacks do not recur.
Commitment to Healthcare Services
The ministry called for necessary protection for health institutions to ensure the continuation of medical and humanitarian services without being drawn into the conflict. It stressed that safeguarding health facilities is not merely a sectoral responsibility but a humanitarian and legal obligation that falls on all parties involved.
The Ministry of Public Health and Population reiterated its commitment to continue fulfilling its humanitarian and health duties, providing medical services to citizens under all circumstances, based on its responsibility to protect the right to life and health and uphold human dignity.
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