Yemen: ICRC evacuates 35 more injured from Dammaj

We had been trying for days to enter Dammaj, in Saada governorate, and evacuate those wounded as a result of the fighting. Here the ICRC team is negotiating with the governor of Saada and the Presidential Mediation We had been trying for days to enter Dammaj, in Saada governorate, and evacuate those wounded as a result of the fighting. Here the ICRC team is negotiating with the governor of Saada and the Presidential Mediation Committee.

After long negotiations, we finally succeeded in gaining authorization, and the convoy took off from our office in Saada, heading to Dammaj.

We often had to stop at checkpoints, waiting for the shooting to cease. The road to Dammaj from Saada is only eight kilometres, but it took us several hours to get there.

At every checkpoint, we explained who we were, why we were going to Dammaj, and what our humanitarian duty was towards those caught in the violence.

Sometimes we waited, while sounds of explosions and gunfire broke the heavy silence, wondering when we would finally be able to get into the village, and how many lives we would eventually be able to save.

In the meantime, our cars, which were filled with the medication and bandages used to treat basic war wounds, were being searched as per normal procedure.

In the first round, we managed to evacuate 23 of the most seriously wounded, and we promised to go back as soon as possible to get the others out.

Back in Saada, helicopters provided by the national army airlifted the wounded to Sana'a for treatment.

08.11: In a second round, we evacuated 44 wounded, as well a pregnant woman, her father, and four children.

14.11: We entered the village again, and evacuated 35 wounded and five children, bringing the total number of people we managed to get out of Dammaj to 107.