3 expat women who practiced prostitution in a hotel arrested in Riyadh    Tunisian president and Saudi interior minister discuss security cooperation    Saudi, US defense ministers discuss over phone ways to enhance strategic cooperation    Grand Mufti expresses pride over Saudi Arabia's firm position on Palestine issue    Saudi Arabia's inflation records slight rise reaching 2% in January 2025    Electromin celebrates victory of "Nissan Formula E Team" in "Jeddah E-Prix" as first Saudi private-sector global partner in Formula E    Saudi Arabia vows full support to Lebanon's actions to safeguard citizens' security    US-made heavy bombs arrive in Israel after Biden-era hold    Death toll from New Delhi railway station stampede rises to 18    US, Russia to begin Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia    Al Ittihad CEO calls for fairness as Al Hilal raises officiating concerns ahead of Saudi Classico    LG Electronics Saudi Arabia and Shaker Group mark 30 years of sustainable innovation in HVAC solutions    Benzema shines with goal and two assists as Al Ittihad dominate Al Wehda French star leads Al Ittihad to 4-1 victory, extending lead over Al Hilal ahead of top-of-the-table clash    Saudi Arabia among world's top 10 energy storage markets    Al Hilal held to controversial 1-1 draw against Al Riyadh, missing chance to reclaim top spot    Al Hilal accuses SPL's Michael Emenalo of bias and SFF's Manuel Navarro of pressuring team to accept local referees Club criticizes officiating, calls for elite foreign referees in Saudi Pro League    Maya Diab joins Arab stars and celebrities in celebrating the Centrepoint Ramadan 2025 collection launch at Riyadh Boulevard    Oilatum tackles rise in Eczema and Dry Skin in Saudi Arabia    HONOR brings together AI and luxury with PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic7 RSR at LEAP 2025    Chinese film stirs national pride, rakes in $1bn in days    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Yemen: UN migration agency calls for urgent humanitarian access after ‘horrific' fire
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 09 - 03 - 2021

The UN migration agency (IOM) on Monday called for "urgent humanitarian access" to an overcrowded migrant detention center in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, where a deadly fire reportedly led to multiple deaths at the facility at the weekend.
IOM also called for the release of all migrants from the Immigration, Passports and Naturalization Authority Immigration Holding Facility, where many Ethiopian detainees were being held, along with "renewed commitment to providing safe, predictable movement options for migrants".
Dozens have reportedly been injured, and IOM tweeted that more than 170 have been treated for injuries "with many remaining in critical condition." Carmela Godeau, IOM's regional director for the Middle East and North Africa, said "its impact is clearly horrific".
The final death toll or full extent of injuries has yet to be determined.
Noting that nearly 900 migrants were in the overcrowded holding facility at the time, IOM said that it had personnel on the site when the blaze broke out next to the main building, in a hangar, where more than 350 people were located.
Alongside the Ministry of Public Health, teams of IOM health workers and ambulances, together with 23,000 medical items were immediately dispatched to the facility and to hospitals to provide life-saving assistance.
The IOM official offered condolences to the families of those who died, and asked that the migrant community in Sanaa be given the space to "respectfully mourn and bury their dead in a dignified manner", adding that the UN stands ready to provide additional support.
"We are facing challenges accessing the injured due to an increased security presence in the hospitals," warned Godeau, stressing that humanitarians and health workers must be given access to treat those affected by the fire and others who have been receiving long-term care.
"As many migrants are in a critical condition, meeting their health needs must be an urgent priority," she said.
Yemen acts as a transit country for tens of thousands of migrants traveling between the Horn of Africa and Saudi Arabia, said IOM.
COVID-19 mobility restrictions have reduced arrivals from more than 138,000 in 2019, to slightly over 37,500 in 2020; and thousands of stranded migrants have little access to basic services or protection. IOM upheld that the Yemeni authorities should protect all people in the country, including migrants.
Voluntary returns
Meanwhile, the UN agency has been working with the Government to restart its Voluntary Humanitarian Return program that had been on hold since the start of the pandemic.
So far in Aden alone, over 6,000 people have been registered to return and 1,100 are set to do so in the coming weeks.
IOM has also been discussing the resumption of a humane voluntary returns process with the authorities in Sanaa.
Dueling attacks
In related coverage, the UN has condemned multiple drone and ballistic missile attacks reportedly carried out on Sunday against multiple locations in Saudi Arabia for which Houthi forces, also known as Ansar Allah, have claimed responsibility.
According to UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, the world body is also concerned about retaliation airstrikes on Sanaa and Hodeidah, reportedly carried out by the Saudi-led coalition.
"We urge all parties to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law", he said, reiterating that such actions are "detrimental to the mediation efforts being carried out by Special Envoy Martin Griffiths, who will continue to work with all parties to advance the political process to reach a negotiated settlement to end the conflict". — UN News


Clic here to read the story from its source.