Sana’a – A large medical shipment delivered by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen has stirred widespread controversy, with critics accusing the move of indirectly supporting the armed group amid ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis.

The shipment, which reportedly included essential medicines, surgical supplies, and emergency health kits, arrived earlier this week and was distributed to hospitals and clinics in northern governorates under Houthi control. The ICRC stated that the aid was part of its neutral humanitarian mandate to assist civilians affected by war, regardless of political affiliation.

However, the delivery has drawn sharp criticism from Yemeni activists and officials in government-held areas, who argue that the supplies could be misused by Houthi authorities or diverted from their intended civilian beneficiaries. Some have described the shipment as a form of “unintended legitimization” of the group’s control over key infrastructure, including health facilities.

“The humanitarian principle of neutrality must not come at the expense of accountability,” said one official in Aden. “There is a real risk that such aid strengthens the Houthis’ grip while the rest of the country suffers.”

The ICRC has maintained a presence in Yemen since 1962 and continues to operate in coordination with the Yemen Red Crescent Society. It has emphasized that its aid is strictly humanitarian and aimed at alleviating suffering in a country where more than 70% of the population depends on external assistance.

The controversy underscores the complex challenges facing humanitarian organizations in conflict zones, where access, impartiality, and transparency are often contested.