MOCHA: Since August, MSF teams have been working in Mocha (Taiz governorate), 180 km south of Hodeidah, where MSF opened a surgical field hospital to provide emergency medical care to people coming from the Hodeidah and Taiz frontlines. Since opening, near 2,000 consultations were realized at the ER, and more than 1,000 surgeries were performed. Among emergencies received between August and December, 18% were children under 15. Patients had injuries from landmines, gunshots, shrapnel and blasts. MSF field hospital in Mocha remains the only health facility performing emergency surgery in the area. Teams are receiving pregnant women with complicated deliveries who require urgent surgery, like C-sections. MSF is also supporting advanced medical posts near frontlines in Mafraq Al Mocha and Hays, with stabilization and OPD kits.
MAWZA: Mawza is located in Taiz governorate, a 45 minutes-drive to the east of Mocha city. This is a very poor and rural area, people are depending on their land to eat and to earn money. The area was taken over from Ansar Allah’s control by forces loyal to President Hadi, supported by the Saudi and Emirati-led coalition, in the beginning of 2018. Fighting damaged the fields and thus, the livelihood of the 13,000 inhabitants of Mawza. While military troops were withdrawing, thousands of landmines and improvised explosive devices (IED) were planted in the area. Between August and December, MSF teams in Mocha received around 150 people injured by landmines or IED, mainly children playing in the fields.