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International Committee of Red Cross president visits Yemen amid its monthslong civil war

Associated Press
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Peter Maurer, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, center, arrives at the international airport in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) (The Associated Press)

Peter Maurer, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, center, arrives at the international airport in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) (The Associated Press)

Peter Maurer, the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, center, arrives at the international airport in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2015. (AP Photo/Hani Mohammed) (The Associated Press)

The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross has arrived in Yemen's rebel-held capital, Sanaa, amid its monthslong civil war.

Peter Maurer's visit, which started Saturday, is set to last until Monday. A Red Cross statement said it is intended "to highlight the dire humanitarian situation in the country."

The statement added that the Red Cross is "concerned about attacks on medical facilities and personnel," saying that four Red Cross volunteers have been killed since the conflict began.

Yemenis are suffering from a shortage of food, water and medicine in the Arab world's poorest country. The U.N. declared its highest-level humanitarian emergency in Yemen on July 1.

A Saudi-led, American-supported coalition began launching airstrikes in March against Shiite rebels known as Houthis and their allies.