MSF.org has published Yemen: Influx of war wounded as fighting intensifies in Hodeidah, Hajjah, Saada and Taiz. Excerpt:
As conflict intensifies on several frontlines across Yemen, an influx of people with war-related injuries are being treated at facilities run by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in Hodeidah, Hajjah, Aden, Saada and Taiz governorates.
In Hodeidah, a major offensive was launched on 1 November by forces loyal to President Hadi, backed by the Saudi and Emirati-led coalition (SELC), against Ansar Allah troops. Heavy ground fighting and aerial bombardments are threatening the lives of thousands of civilians.
Between 1 and 6 November, MSF teams in Hodeidah treated 24 war-wounded civilians at Al Salakhana hospital, including five women and nine children. Of these patients, 17 had blast injuries and one had a gunshot wound.
In the same period, another 50 war-wounded were treated at MSF’s surgical field hospital in Mocha, 180 kilometres south of Hodeidah, mostly injured by blasts and gunshots. They included three women and eight children.
This increase follows an intensification of ground fighting and aerial bombardments in Hodeidah since last Thursday.
“A stronger offensive by the Saudi and Emirati-led coalition-backed forces was launched with a deployment of troops on the ground. They have moved quickly around the city,” says Frederic Bertrand, MSF head of mission in Yemen. “This raises fears of a siege which could affect the tens of thousands of people still living inside Hodeidah.”
“Every day we hear the sound of heavy airstrikes and shooting in the city,” says Bertrand. “On Monday afternoon [5 November], ground fighting occured near Al Salakhana hospital and the MSF house. Our teams had to stay inside the hospital for their own safety.”
Movements of civilians leaving Hodeidah were reported last weekend, but it is difficult to assess how many have already left the city. “Other civilians are reportedly trapped inside the city because of the ongoing ground fighting and airstrikes,” Bertrand explains.
