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Aid groups in Yemen warned attack could endanger all supplies Aid groups in Yemen warned attack could endanger all supplies
(35 minutes later)
Aid groups working in Yemen have been warned by the UK’s Department for International Development to make contingency plans for an imminent attack on the strategic port of Hodeidah, a move that could endanger humanitarian supplies for the entire famine-struck country. The UK’s Department for International Development has told aid groups to make contingency plans for an imminent attack on the strategic port of Hodeidah, a move that could endanger humanitarian supplies for the entire famine-struck country.
The note to aid agencies reads: “We are doing everything we can through diplomatic channels to discourage an assault on Hodeidah. However despite these actions, a military assault now looks imminent.The note to aid agencies reads: “We are doing everything we can through diplomatic channels to discourage an assault on Hodeidah. However despite these actions, a military assault now looks imminent.
“The Emiratis have informed us today that they will now give a 3-day grace period for the UN (and their partners) to leave the city. Please take all precautions necessary to prepare for this and let us know if there is anything we can do to assist you in any way. We are thinking of you and your staff at this very difficult time.” “The Emiratis have informed us today that they will now give a 3-day grace period for the UN [and their partners] to leave the city. Please take all precautions necessary to prepare for this and let us know if there is anything we can do to assist you in any way. We are thinking of you and your staff at this very difficult time.”
Alistair Burt, the UK minister for the Middle East, warned in a tweet: “Extremely concerned that life-saving organizations are not getting the security guarantees they need to work safely in Yemen. All parties to the conflict must allow safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access to all parts of Yemen”. The UK minister for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, said in a tweet: “Extremely concerned that life-saving organizations are not getting the security guarantees they need to work safely in Yemen. All parties to the conflict must allow safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access to all parts of Yemen”.
It appears that the pressure being placed on the UAE to agree a ceasefire is not having much effect, and the US government is unwilling to go as far as damaging ties with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over an issue that is so important to Riyadh. It appears that pressure on the UAE to agree a ceasefire is not having much effect, and the US government is unwilling to go as far as damaging ties with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over an issue that is so important to Riyadh.
The UN on Friday issued a public statement that in its worst case scenario planning up to 250,000 civilians would be killed as a result of an attack on the port. Overall, the Red Sea port supplies more than 80% of the aid for Yemen, including commercial and humanitarian aid. The UN issued a public statement on Friday saying that in its worst-case scenario planningas many as 250,000 civilians would be killed as a result of an attack on Hodeidah. The Red Sea port supplies more than 80% of the aid for Yemen, including commercial and humanitarian aid.
The port has been held for more than two years by Houthi rebel forces, and has been seen by the US and Saudi coalition as a route through which Houthis have been smuggling arms, including missiles with which to attack Saudi Arabia itself. Houthi forces have held the port for more than two years, and the US and Saudi coalition see it as a route through which the rebels have been smuggling arms, including missiles with which to attack Saudi Arabia.
Reports on Saturday suggested the Lower Al-Jahah area, south of the city, had been captured in bloody fighting. Reports on Saturday suggested the Lower Al-Jahah area, south of the city, had been captured in fierce fighting. Local experts have said an attack on Hodeidah would be “Yemen’s Aleppo”.
Yemeni experts warn an attack on Hodeidah would be “Yemen’s Aleppo”. Bipartisan efforts in the US Senate are under way to tell the UAE and Saudi Arabia that proceeding may result in US assistance to the Saudi/UAE coalition in Yemen being severed.
Bipartisan efforts in the US Senate are under way to warn the UAE and Saudi Arabia that should they procee, it may result in completely cutting off US assistance to the Saudi/UAE coalition in Yemen. Senators Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, and Todd Young, a Republican, have already raised that threat. “The civil war and the world’s largest humanitarian crisis in Yemen are inflicting unacceptable damage to our national security interests and exacerbating heartbreaking human suffering,” they said. “The United States must use its influence to persuade Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to pursue an urgent diplomatic solution to end the civil war.”
Senators Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, and the Republican Todd Young have already raised that threat, saying: “The civil war and the world’s largest humanitarian crisis in Yemen are inflicting unacceptable damage to our national security interests and exacerbating heartbreaking human suffering. The United States must use its influence to persuade Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to pursue an urgent diplomatic solution to end the civil war.”
The chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, Tom Tugendhat, also said he was “hearing very worrying reports that UAE forces may be about to strike Hodeida. This would be a mistake and have massive humanitarian and environmental consequences.”The chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, Tom Tugendhat, also said he was “hearing very worrying reports that UAE forces may be about to strike Hodeida. This would be a mistake and have massive humanitarian and environmental consequences.”
Military planners have warned that not only is an attack likely to cause humanitarian catastrophe, it would be a strategic mistake militarily. NGOs have flagged that any military assault that results in obstructions to humanitarian aid could make parties to the conflict liable for UN sanctions under Resolution 2216. Military planners have said an attack was not only likely to cause a humanitarian catastrophe, but that it would be a strategic mistake militarily. NGOs have flagged that any military assault that results in obstructions to humanitarian aid could make parties to the conflict liable for UN sanctions under resolution 2216.
Martin Griffiths, the UN special envoy for Yemen, has been holding talks with all sides to try to broker a peace settlement, but he fears a major new military assault could make his plans appear redundant.Martin Griffiths, the UN special envoy for Yemen, has been holding talks with all sides to try to broker a peace settlement, but he fears a major new military assault could make his plans appear redundant.
Lise Grande, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, said on Friday that humanitarian agencies “fear, in a prolonged worst case, that as many as 250,000 people may lose everything – even their lives”. As many as 600,000 civilians are living in and around the rebel-held city, through which most of Yemen’s population gets food, fuel and medicine. Lise Grande, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, said on Friday that humanitarian agencies “fear, in a prolonged worst case, that as many as 250,000 people may lose everything – even their lives”. As many as 600,000 civilians live in and around Hodeidah.
“Cutting off imports through Hodeidah for any length of time will put Yemen’s population at extreme, unjustifiable risk,” Grande said.“Cutting off imports through Hodeidah for any length of time will put Yemen’s population at extreme, unjustifiable risk,” Grande said.
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Middle East and North AfricaMiddle East and North Africa
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