Medical aid group suspends activities in southern Yemen due to lack of safety

Source: Xinhua| 2018-10-03 03:13:31|Editor: yan
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ADEN, Yemen, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Doctors Without Borders (MSF), an international medical charity, said Tuesday it has suspended activities in Yemen's southern province of al-Dhalea following terror attacks on its headquarters.

The MSF headquarters based in al-Dhalea was targeted for the second time in less than a week by explosives, but, fortunately, nobody was harmed, the MSF said in a statement.

A security source told Xinhua that "unknown gunmen attacked the headquarters of the MSF with explosives and investigations are underway."

The MSF strongly condemned the attacks on its compound and staff, adding that it was forced to withdraw its staff from al-Dhalea province and suspend its medical programs until further notice due to lack of safety.

The attacks deprive people of much-needed healthcare, the statement said, calling on all warring parties, armed groups and individuals in Yemen to respect and ensure the safety of humanitarian and health workers in the country.

The MSF remains committed to support the Yemeni people and is working in 15 hospitals and health centers in Yemen, while providing support to more than 16 hospitals or health centers across 12 provinces of the war-torn Arab country.

The impoverished Arab country has been locked in a civil war since the Iranian-backed Shiite Houthi rebels overran much of the country militarily and seized all northern provinces, including the capital Sanaa, in 2014.

Saudi Arabia leads an Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after Houthi rebels forced him into exile.

The United Nations has listed Yemen as the world's top humanitarian crisis, with 7 million citizens on the brink of famine.

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