Officials at various UN agencies, including the World Health Organization, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Unicef, issued a statement today calling on the Saudi-led coalition to "urgently" lift the "complete" blockade. in Yemen. "Together we call on the coalition to provide urgent and full access to all of Yemen's ports in the Red Sea and to facilitate the entry and free movement of commercial and vital humanitarian goods," UN officials wrote.
The partial lifting of the blockade allowed "the provision of vital assistance to people in desperation" but "given the scale of the humanitarian crisis ((), the result is a slowdown in a humanitarian tragedy that threatens the lives of millions of people and not to stop ", they underline. "Yemen remains under threat from one of the greatest famines of modern times," he said, adding that "more than eight million people could starve to death if they do not receive emergency food aid."
Three ships carrying food have been approved in recent days to enter the Yemeni port of Hodeidah, but "four tankers carrying petrol [necessary for the operation of health centers and water purification], as well as ten other ships carrying food are waiting to enter receive an entry permit ", they underline.
The text is signed by Adanom Gebresesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, Achim Steiner, Director of the United Nations Development Program (PNUD), UN High Commissioner for Refugees World Food Program (PAM) David Beasley.
"The UN is sending a team to Riyadh to discuss with the coalition and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia any problems they may have with these ports," the statement said.
In this impoverished country of the Arabian Peninsula, which has been ravaged by war for two years (8.750 dead and 50.600 wounded), the military situation seems to be evolving. The war has pitted forces since 2015 against former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, which has so far been allied with the pro-Iranian Houthi rebel movement, and a military coalition under Saudi Arabia.
Today, however, Saleh said he was open to talks with Riyadh if the coalition ban was lifted, angering the Houthis.