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Arab Red Crescent: International Parties ‘Politicizing’ Yemen Aid | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Iraqi Red Crescent employees in Baghdad carry boxes filled with humanitarian aid supplies to be sent to the displaced families from the restive city of Fallujah. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)


Riyadh-Diplomatic Advisor to the Organization of Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross, Dr. Fawzi Oussedik, said that the organization was getting ready to receive refugees from the Iraqi city of Mosul, noting that several obstacles were hampering humanitarian assistance in Iraq.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper during his visit to Riyadh on Tuesday, Oussedik said that Arab and Gulf humanitarian organizations were present in countries witnessing wars and conflicts, adding that humanitarian efforts deployed by Gulf organizations have been recognized around the world.

He also stressed that humanitarian aid in Yemen has been politicized by some international parties, in order to “blackmail” neighboring countries and make political gains.

While lauding international efforts to allow the delivery of aid to Yemen’s war-stricken areas, Oussedik said that his organization has documented attempts by Houthi insurgents and extremist groups to steal the aid and prevent its delivery to the besieged residents.

The Arab Red Crescent official said that the organization was preparing to hold an international conference on the protection of civilians in armed conflicts.

Oussedik told Asharq Al-Awsat that the presence of Arab humanitarian organizations was “disturbing some international forces”, which were trying to veil the truth about the efforts deployed in conflict areas.

In this context, he praised the work achieved by King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aids (KSRELIEF) in alleviating the sufferings of people living in war zones.

Commenting on the situation in Syria, Oussedik said the situation there was extremely bad, stressing the need to reach a political solution to end the crisis.