Kidney failure patients performing dialysis at a hospital in Yemen (via Twitter (@Alahnomi_ABDO))

In light of the illegal US-led blockade on Yemen and its devastating effects on the lives of Yemeni people, the Yemeni Ministry of Public Health and Population on Saturday issued a statement on Saturday warning that more than 5,000 patients with kidney failure are facing the risk of imminent death if dialysis sessions are halted due to the shortage of medicines and solutions, Yemeni news agency SABA reported on Saturday.

The statement says that the alarming quantities of dialysis drugs and related supplies prompted the Ministry to issue a formal appeal for international and local organizations to provide humanitarian support for patients suffering from kidney failure.

According to the report, stockpiles for the year 2023 have completely run off.

The Ministry issued a formal appeal to the UN for the organization to promptly intervene in the face of the injustices Yemeni people are enduring and lift the blockade illegally imposed on Sanaa, which is impeding the delivery of crucial medicines and medical supplies from abroad.

According to the Ministry, patients require about 500,000 dialysis sessions alone each year - including the required medications which accompany each session.

The Ministry noted that the absence of incentives and halting salary payments are further contributing to aggravating the suffering of patients suffering from kidney failure and dialysis centers alike.

There are more than 498 hemodialysis machines in 17 centers that require periodical maintenance, the statement says, adding that there remain six provinces that have no dialysis centers, namely Raymah, Abyan, Lahj, Jawf, Al-Dhalea, and Bayda.

Health officials further emphasized that humanitarian response plans should be inclusive of the urgent needs of the health sector.

Hundreds of patients with kidney failure in Yemen suffer from the absence of medical services, the high prices of medicines, and the difficulty of reaching cities whose health centers are still able to function #Remove_The_Suffering_Of_Yemeni_Patients pic.twitter.com/lBFmxPz4MC
— Dr.Motaharمطهر الدرويش بديل (@motahar_dr) March 18, 2021