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Yemen war: First food aid arrives at port after blockade eased Yemen war: First food aid arrives at port after blockade eased
(about 1 hour later)
An aid ship carrying 5.5 tonnes of flour has been allowed to dock at the port of Hudaydah in Yemen, after the Saudi-led coalition eased a blockade that has lasted for nearly three weeks. An aid ship carrying food supplies has been allowed to dock at a rebel-held port in Yemen, after the Saudi-led coalition eased a blockade that has lasted for nearly three weeks.
The blockade worsened the plight of millions at risk of starvation.The blockade worsened the plight of millions at risk of starvation.
Planes carrying medical supplies were allowed to land in the capital, Sanaa, on Saturday but this is the first shipment of food aid to be let in.Planes carrying medical supplies were allowed to land in the capital, Sanaa, on Saturday but this is the first shipment of food aid to be let in.
The blockade was imposed on 6 November after a missile attack on Saudi Arabia.The blockade was imposed on 6 November after a missile attack on Saudi Arabia.
The coalition blocked off land, sea and air routes two days after the Houthi rebels they are fighting in Yemen fired the missile at the Saudi capital, Riyadh. It was intercepted over the international airport.The coalition blocked off land, sea and air routes two days after the Houthi rebels they are fighting in Yemen fired the missile at the Saudi capital, Riyadh. It was intercepted over the international airport.
Saudi Arabia accuses Iran of supplying arms to the Houthis, which Tehran denies.Saudi Arabia accuses Iran of supplying arms to the Houthis, which Tehran denies.
Earlier this week, the Saudi-led coalition announced it would reopen access to the Houthi-controlled Hudaydah port for urgent humanitarian aid and Sanaa's airport to UN aid and relief flights. It was earlier reported that the aid shipment arrived at the Red Sea port of Hudaydah, a key Houthi-held port, but the UN now says it docked at the port of Saleef to the north.
The easing of the blockade followed a review by the coalition to ensure weapons do not reach the rebels. It is carrying 25,000 tonnes of wheat, Abeer Etefa, a spokesperson for the World Food Programme told the AFP news agency. The aid will be unloaded on Monday, due to strong winds.
Another ship with a similar amount of flour is waiting for the first vessel to unload, the Yemen Post newspaper reports, and more ships carrying emergency aid are also due to arrive. Earlier this week, the Saudi-led coalition announced it would reopen access to the Hudaydah port for urgent humanitarian aid and Sanaa's airport to UN aid and relief flights.
A spokesperson for the World Food Programme said that 25,000 tons of wheat would be offloaded on Monday. On Friday, the UN's humanitarian affairs office said access to Hudaydah remained blocked. A vessel did arrive there on Sunday, but it is reported to be a commercial ship.
The easing of the Saudi-led blockade followed a review by the coalition to ensure weapons do not reach the rebels.
Planes that arrived in Sanaa on Saturday carried 1.9m doses of vaccines, but the UN's agency for children, Unicef, says that is just a small fraction of what is needed.Planes that arrived in Sanaa on Saturday carried 1.9m doses of vaccines, but the UN's agency for children, Unicef, says that is just a small fraction of what is needed.
"I reiterate my plea to everyone with a heart for children, indeed not to prevent us from delivering what is urgently needed and massively needed," Unicef Middle East Director Geert Cappelaere told Reuters news agency. "Yesterday was just a very small step.""I reiterate my plea to everyone with a heart for children, indeed not to prevent us from delivering what is urgently needed and massively needed," Unicef Middle East Director Geert Cappelaere told Reuters news agency. "Yesterday was just a very small step."
More than 20 million people in Yemen are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. Eleven million of those are children and 400,000 are affected by severe acute malnutrition.More than 20 million people in Yemen are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. Eleven million of those are children and 400,000 are affected by severe acute malnutrition.
The coalition intervened in the war between forces loyal to President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi and the Houthis in 2015. Since then ground fighting and air strikes have killed more than 8,670 people, according to UN figures.The coalition intervened in the war between forces loyal to President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi and the Houthis in 2015. Since then ground fighting and air strikes have killed more than 8,670 people, according to UN figures.