The head of the ICRC in the Yemeni city of Aden has told the BBC the country’s conflict has made it a “ghost city”.
Robert Ghosen said medical supplies were urgently needed in the city. On Monday an aid flight to Yemen was held back because of logistical problems.
The World Health Organisation says more than 540 people have died in the conflict.
In recent months Yemen has been gripped by fighting between several different groups.
The main conflict is between Houthi rebels and forces loyal to the government of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, who has fled to Saudi Arabia.
Aden is under siege from Houthi rebels pushing south from the capital Sanaa, and for two weeks Saudi air strikes have targeted the Houthis in response – with civilians caught in the middle.
“We are seeing a lot of people arriving dead at the hospital or dying in the hospitals,” Mr Ghosen told the BBC’s Today programme.
“The hospitals don’t have the right supplies and the right staff,” he said.
Unicef has said at least 74 of those killed in the conflict were children. The WHO says 1,700 people have been wounded.
The ICRC has previously called for a 24-hour ceasefire in Aden, while Russia has also urged the UN Security Council to support a “humanitarian pause” in the air strikes.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was given permission by a Saudi-led coalition to land planes carrying staff and medical supplies.
The passenger plane landed safely on Monday but the supply flight has been unable to depart.
ICRC spokeswoman Sitara Jabeen says they have been unable to find a cargo plane to take their 48 tonnes of medical supplies into the country.
Fewer and fewer airlines “are either allowed, or able, or willing, to fly to Yemen”, she said.
Ms Jabeen added that the country’s security situation made finding a solution “extremely difficult” but that they were working to sort out the logistics.
President Hadi was forced to flee Yemen two weeks ago, as the rebels advanced on Aden.
The Houthis have said their aim is to replace his government, which they accuse of being corrupt.
They are supported by troops loyal to the former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was ousted in the Arab Spring protests.
Saudi Arabia says the Houthis have military backing from regional rival Iran, which denies the allegation.
BBC
