Volunteers Donate Blood in Yemen

Outside a field hospital in Taghyeer Square in the Yemeni capital a queue of volunteers waits to donate blood for the wounded on Thursday.

Meanwhile, clashes between pro-and anti-government forces continued throughout the country’s capital, Sana’a. Snipers shot dead two demonstrators and wounded 14 others as analysts expressed fears about the country being on the brink of a civil war.

Thousands have camped for over eight months in Taghyeer Square; calling for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down from power.

"What prompted me to donate blood was to support young protesters in bringing down this corrupt regime, which is shedding the blood of innocent people," said volunteer Nasser Abdulhamid as he lay in a stretcher with tubes attached to his arms.

While several people donated blood, wounded protesters were brought to the field hospital for treatment.

Fahed al-Mamari a laboratory technician said it was essential to reserve blood.

"Because of the number of wounded people, we need blood donors. We also have to have a reserve in case the wounded unexpectedly need blood so we need to be ready," he said.

Although volunteers are willing to give blood the hospital still faces challenges due to limited available resources available to them.

Over 400 pro-democracy demonstrators have been killed since the revolt against the regime began in January.


Speakers:
Nasser Abdulhamid a Blood donner volunteer
Fahed al-Mamari a laboratory technician