A medical shipment delivered by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen has stirred widespread controversy.
The shipment, which reportedly included essential medicines, surgical supplies, and emergency health kits, arrived earlier this week and was distributed to hospitals and clinics in northern governorates under Houthi rebels’ control.
The ICRC stated that the aid was part of its neutral humanitarian mandate to assist civilians affected by war, regardless of political affiliation.
However, the delivery has drawn sharp criticism from activists and officials in the internationally recognized government-held areas, who argue that the supplies could be misused by Houthis. Some have described the shipment as a form of “unintended legitimization” of the group’s control over key infrastructure, including health facilities.
The ICRC has maintained a presence in Yemen since 1962 and continues to operate in coordination with the Yemen Red Crescent Society. It has emphasized that its aid is strictly humanitarian and aimed at alleviating suffering in a country where more than 70% of the population depends on external assistance.
The controversy underscores the complex challenges facing humanitarian organizations in conflict zones, where access, impartiality, and transparency are often contested.