Yemen Reports 30 New COVID-19 Cases

 A man lies on a bed at a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) quarantine center in Aden, Yemen March 27, 2021. Picture taken March 27, 2021. REUTERS/Fawaz Salman
A man lies on a bed at a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) quarantine center in Aden, Yemen March 27, 2021. Picture taken March 27, 2021. REUTERS/Fawaz Salman
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Yemen Reports 30 New COVID-19 Cases

 A man lies on a bed at a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) quarantine center in Aden, Yemen March 27, 2021. Picture taken March 27, 2021. REUTERS/Fawaz Salman
A man lies on a bed at a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) quarantine center in Aden, Yemen March 27, 2021. Picture taken March 27, 2021. REUTERS/Fawaz Salman

Yemen witnessed Monday a slight surge in coronavirus-related deaths and infections as the war-torn country begins to contain the third wave of the outbreak that started three months ago.

On Monday, the Aden-based National Emergency Committee for COVID-19 reported 30 infections and three deaths in seven governorates.

The number of confirmed infections in areas controlled by the internationally recognized government in south and east Yemen reached 9,556 with 6,084 recoveries and 1,665 active cases since the first COVID-19 case was reported in April 2020. The total death toll also rose to 1,807.

However, officials believe that the true number of coronavirus cases is much higher than the recorded, as the country suffers from limited testing capacity and difficulty of accessing treatment centers.

Also, most cases do not go to hospitals due to poverty and lack of confidence in the health sector.

The Houthi group, which controls Sanaa and some cities in the north and west of the country, does not report COVID infections and deaths.

The group only announced three infections and one death since the pandemic outbreak was announced in Yemen in April 2020.

More than six and a half years of war has undermined the health system in Yemen, which the United Nations says is already suffering from one of the world's worst health crises.



Hamas: Israel's Claim on Hostages' Handover Ceremony is Pretext to Evade Obligations

Fighters from Hamas' Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades escort Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov before handing him over to the Red Cross in Al Nusairat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, 22 February, 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER
Fighters from Hamas' Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades escort Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov before handing him over to the Red Cross in Al Nusairat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, 22 February, 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER
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Hamas: Israel's Claim on Hostages' Handover Ceremony is Pretext to Evade Obligations

Fighters from Hamas' Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades escort Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov before handing him over to the Red Cross in Al Nusairat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, 22 February, 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER
Fighters from Hamas' Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades escort Israeli hostage Omer Shem Tov before handing him over to the Red Cross in Al Nusairat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, 22 February, 2025. EPA/MOHAMMED SABER

Hamas on Sunday condemned Israel's decision to postpone the release of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, saying its claim that the hostages' handover ceremonies are "humiliating" was false and a pretext to evade Israel's obligations under the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin "Netanyahu's decision reflects a deliberate attempt to disrupt the agreement, represents a clear violation of its terms, and shows the occupation's lack of reliability in implementing its obligations," Ezzat El Rashq, a member of the Hamas political bureau, said in a statement.

Israel said earlier it was delaying the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners it had planned to free the day before until Hamas met its conditions, underscoring the fragility of the Gaza ceasefire accord.

Netanyahu's office released a statement in the early hours of Sunday saying that Israel was waiting to deliver the 620 Palestinian prisoners and detainees "until the release of the next hostages has been assured, and without the humiliating ceremonies."

According to Reuters, Hamas' El Rashq said the ceremonies do not include any insult to the hostages, "but rather reflect the humane and dignified treatment of them,” adding that the "real insult" is what the Palestinian prisoners are subjected to during the release process.

The Palestinian militant group official cited the hands' tying of the Palestinian prisoners and detainees and their blindfolding and threatening them not to hold any celebrations for their release as examples of their humiliation at the hands of Israeli authorities.

Hamas has made hostages appear on stage in front of crowds and sometimes speak before they were handed over. Coffins with hostage remains have also been carried through crowds.

Israel's announcement, which also accused Hamas of repeatedly violating the month-old ceasefire, came after the Palestinian militant group on Saturday handed over six hostages from Gaza as part of an exchange arranged under the truce.