Sanaa, January 12 (RHC)-- The severe shortage of fuel in Yemen is deteriorating the health care system in the country. Yemen's Ministry of Health says the rate of infant deaths has increased amid the severe fuel crisis caused by the continued detention of oil ships by Saudi Arabia.

Health officials in Yemen say many intensive care units and emergency rooms had to stop providing services due to the lack of fuel which has led to the death of more patients, including children.  They want the United Nations to intervene and force Saudi Arabia to lift the siege it has imposed on Yemen.

Saudi Arabia has maintained an all-out blockade on Yemen since March 2015. It has prevented the entry of oil vessels and seized them.  Observers say that this has led the war-torn country to a harsh fuel shortage.

Severe fuel crisis has significantly worsened the humanitarian crisis in Yemen, where most people have no access to basic health services.  Health officials say that in the chaos caused by the Saudi blockade, Yemeni children have suffered the most.