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Yemen: First UN aid ship in four months reaches Aden | Yemen: First UN aid ship in four months reaches Aden |
(35 minutes later) | |
A United Nations aid ship carrying food supplies has docked in Yemen's southern city of Aden for the first time since fighting broke out there in March. | A United Nations aid ship carrying food supplies has docked in Yemen's southern city of Aden for the first time since fighting broke out there in March. |
The port has been inaccessible until now because of Saudi-led coalition air strikes and fierce clashes between local militiamen and Houthi rebels. | The port has been inaccessible until now because of Saudi-led coalition air strikes and fierce clashes between local militiamen and Houthi rebels. |
The UN vessel was followed later in the day by another aid ship from the United Arab Emirates. | The UN vessel was followed later in the day by another aid ship from the United Arab Emirates. |
More than 80% of Yemen's 25 million people now requires humanitarian aid. | More than 80% of Yemen's 25 million people now requires humanitarian aid. |
The UN ship was carrying 4,700 tonnes of food supplies - enough to feed 180,000 people for a month - as well as pharmaceutical aid. | The UN ship was carrying 4,700 tonnes of food supplies - enough to feed 180,000 people for a month - as well as pharmaceutical aid. |
"This is a major breakthrough for our humanitarian response,'' said Muhannad Hadi, a regional director for the UN's World Food Programme (WFP). | "This is a major breakthrough for our humanitarian response,'' said Muhannad Hadi, a regional director for the UN's World Food Programme (WFP). |
"While we have been able to reach several southern areas by land, docking at the port of Aden allows us to accelerate our response to meet urgent needs," he added. | "While we have been able to reach several southern areas by land, docking at the port of Aden allows us to accelerate our response to meet urgent needs," he added. |
Vast amounts of food supplies are needed in Yemen - the UN estimates that 13 million people, more than half of the country's population, are facing food shortages. | Vast amounts of food supplies are needed in Yemen - the UN estimates that 13 million people, more than half of the country's population, are facing food shortages. |
Why is there fighting in Yemen? | Why is there fighting in Yemen? |
Yemen crisis: Who is fighting whom? | Yemen crisis: Who is fighting whom? |
The UN has tried repeatedly over the past few weeks to deliver supplies to Aden but has been prevented by severe fighting around the port. | The UN has tried repeatedly over the past few weeks to deliver supplies to Aden but has been prevented by severe fighting around the port. |
Vessels sent by the UAE managed to reach the city in May but not under the UN flag. | Vessels sent by the UAE managed to reach the city in May but not under the UN flag. |
The much-needed aid arrived as forces loyal to Yemen's exiled President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi strengthened their control of Aden. | |
The governor of Aden, Nayef al-Bakri, said that local militias and army units loyal to Mr Hadi, backed by Saudi-led air strikes, had taken full control of the city. | The governor of Aden, Nayef al-Bakri, said that local militias and army units loyal to Mr Hadi, backed by Saudi-led air strikes, had taken full control of the city. |
They are fighting the Houthi rebels, who seized the capital Sanaa in September, and allied troops loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. | They are fighting the Houthi rebels, who seized the capital Sanaa in September, and allied troops loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. |
The UN says the conflict has killed more than 3,640 people, around half of them civilians, since late March. | The UN says the conflict has killed more than 3,640 people, around half of them civilians, since late March. |
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