Iran censures ICRC over ‘insufficient’ aid for Yemen

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has criticized the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for dispatching “insufficient” aid for people in the war-hit Yemen.

In a Tuesday meeting with Robert Mardini, the head of the ICRC operations for Near and Middle East, Amir-Abdollahian said the body is obligated to send humanitarian aid to regional countries which are affected by crises.

“Miscalculation and actions by certain countries in contravention of human principles and international regulations have regrettably exacerbated the humanitarian situation in the crisis-hit countries,” the senior Iranian diplomat said.

He added that innocent civilians are the first to fall victim to such moves, which have even affected the activities of international humanitarian relief organizations.

Amir-Abdollahian called for effective measures by the international community to immediately and regularly dispatch relief aid to the Yemeni people and prevent a “humanitarian catastrophe” in the war-stricken country.

Mardini, for his part, said Yemen is facing deplorable humanitarian situation and added that the ICRC is committed to sending relief aid to Yemeni civilians despite insecurity in the impoverished country.

The ICRC official added that a safe and effective dispatch of aid to Yemen is difficult given the ongoing war and the difficulty of convincing armed groups to allow distribution.

Mardini praised Iran’s humanitarian aid to Yemen, Iraq and Syria, saying the ICRC would try to distribute Iran’s relief aid to the Yemeni people despite all problems.

Saudi Arabia launched its military aggression against Yemen on March 26 – without a UN mandate – in a bid to undermine the revolutionary Ansarullah movement and restore power to Hadi, a staunch ally of Riyadh.

Nearly 4,500 people have been killed in the Yemeni conflict, the World Health Organization said on August 11. Local Yemeni sources, however, say the fatality figure is much higher.