Thousands of dialysis patients in Yemen at risk of dying

Thousands of Yemenis suffering from kidney failure risk dying unless dialysis centres in the war-torn country receive more supplies and their staff are paid.

Four dialysis centres have closed in Yemen since the war started and the remaining 28 struggle to provide services, with broken machines, a lack of essential supplies and unpaid staff, the Red Cross said on Tuesday.

Many patients have cut back to two sessions a week instead of the recommended three.

Yemen's health sector has been devastated by three years of war between the Saudi-supported government and Iran-backed rebels who control the capital.

"An astonishing 25 percent of dialysis patients in Yemen have died every year since conflict began in 2015," the ICRC said in a statement.

"More dialysis supplies, functioning dialysis machines, and funding for staff salaries are urgently needed to ensure the mortality rate does not rise further for Yemen's 4,400 renal failure patients," the ICRC added.

"Without dialysis treatment, the outcome is fatal," said Alexandre Faite, the ICRC's head of delegation in Yemen.

More than 10,000 people have been killed since a Saudi-led military coalition intervened on the government's side in 2015, leaving the country facing what the United Nations has called the world's worst humanitarian disaster.