SANAA, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Blood banks in hospitals of Sanaa, Yemen's capital, are having difficulty providing enough blood for those in need as the demand increases rapidly, a health official said on Tuesday.
Adnan Hakimi, technical director of the National Center for Blood Transfusion and Research in Houthi-controlled Sanaa, said hospitals in the capital have seen a surging demand for blood as the war and economic crisis are creating more patients.
"We are facing a severe shortage of blood, which forces us to launch a blood donation campaign," said Hakimi.
In a statement calling for more residents to donate, the blood center said the population of Sanaa increased significantly because tens of thousands of war-displaced people from other provinces come to seek refugee here.
Moreover, the harsh living condition of most Yemenis has rendered them more susceptible to diseases, which pushed high the need for blood but decreased people's willingness to donate blood, the center added.
Years of war have crippled the Arab country in almost all aspects, including its health system.
According to the United Nations, only half of Yemen's health facilities are still functioning and they rely heavily on humanitarian aids from international organizations. Enditem
