International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

A lack of adequate healthcare facilities in Yemen has been blamed for contributing to the deaths of many children.

According to the Charitable Social Reform Society, both pregnant women and infants are often unable to get the treatment they require, Al-Arab reports.

This is leading to many deaths that the group believes could be avoided if adequate facilities were available.

Dr Abdul Majeed Farhan, secretary general of the body, commented: "Intervention is needed now to save the lives of Yemeni children. This is a critical necessity."

The official said that hunger and malnutrition are also leading to many child deaths, with poorer families in particular "unable to provide meals" for youngsters.

Indeed, he noted that estimates from the United Nations Children's Fund suggest the lives of up to 1.5 million children in the country are at risk because of malnutrition.

Dr Farhan added that Yemen has some of the worst child mortality figures in the world.

Posted by Alexandra George