Doctors plea for conjoined twins to leave Yemen for treatment

A Yemeni hospital issued a plea for newly-born conjoined twins to be allowed to leave the blockaded country for treatment and an operation to be separated.

The twins inside an incubator at the neonatal intensive care unit of Al-Thawra hospital in Sana'a.

The twins inside an incubator at the neonatal intensive care unit of Al-Thawra hospital, in Sana'a, Yemen, 03 February 2019. Source: EPA

The twins boys who were born near the Yemeni capital Sanaa around 10 days ago have separate hearts and lungs, but share a kidney and a pair of legs.

"I hope that they can be transported abroad as soon as possible," said doctor Faisal al-Babili, head of the pediatrics department at Al-Thawra hospital in Sanaa.

A Yemeni medic checks up on conjoined newborn twins, Abdul-Khaliq (right) and Abdul-Rahim (left).
A Yemeni medic checks up on conjoined newborn twins, Abdul-Khaliq (right) and Abdul-Rahim (left). Source: AAP


Babili told AFP his medical team did not have the right equipment to treat or separate the twins who are conjoined at the hip.




Yemen's health system has collapsed as a result of the war between the government and the Huthi rebels.

The Iran-aligned Huthis have been locked in a war with government forces backed since 2015 by a Saudi-led coalition.

 A Yemeni medic checks up on the newborn boys.
A Yemeni medic checks up on the newborn boys. Source: EPA


The conflict has triggered what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with millions of people at risk of starvation.

Some 10,000 people -- mostly civilians -- have been killed since 2015 and more than 60,000 wounded, according to the World Health Organization, although rights groups say the death toll could be five times higher.

While the Huthis control the capital, Saudi Arabia and its allies control Yemen's airspace and have put Sanaa's international airport under blockade.


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Source: AFP, SBS


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