The Red Cross called for an immediate 24-hour ceasefire on Saturday in Yemen, for the reason that many more people recently wounded in airstrikes and ground fighting will die if not tended to straightaway.
It was before the United Nations Security Council meeting regarding the situation in the Arabian Peninsula nation late Saturday when the call came. The Shiite rebels are fighting against the Arab air forces and fighters who are loyal to Yemen's displaced Sunni president.
An immediate "humanitarian pause" was needed in order to tend to the wounded from the airstrikes, especially in and near the southern Yemeni port city of Aden-where the extreme fighting has occurred in the past two weeks. The Red Cross said that the streets of Aden were strewn with dead bodies.
According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, food, water, as well as medical items and personnel are needed to get in the areas adversely affected by the strikes, CNN reported.
According to BBC News, the head of operations for the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Middle East Robert Mardini, their relief supplies and surgical personnel must be permitted to enter the country and safely reach the places adversely affected in order to provide aid, if not, many more people will die. He added that for the wounded victims, the chances of survival only depend on the action within hours, not days.
The Red Cross said that there are sufficient medical equipment to treat up to 3,000 people that is ready to leave only waiting for clearance of passage.
Meanwhile, Peter Wilson, Britain's deputy UN ambassador expressed his regret for the civilian casualties in the strikes, but he also said that Britain will continue on supporting the Saudi-led military action against insurgents.