Following claims that the Hodeidah ports have been used for military purposes, the UN urges for immediate port inspection.
In fact, the UN mission in Yemen’s port of Hodeida, which is held by the Iran-backed Houthi militia, expressed “great concern” on Tuesday over claims it was being militarized by the group, and demanded access for an inspection.
The United Nations Mission to Support the Hodeida Agreement (UNMHA) stated the port was vital for the impoverished country that has been ravaged by a seven-year war.
The Arab Coalition fighting alongside government forces accused the Houthis of militarizing the Red Sea ports and threatened to attack them, after the Houthis seized a United Arab Emirates-flagged ship last week.
“UNMHA reminds the parties that Hodeida ports are a crucial lifeline for millions of Yemeni people,” it wrote in a statement.
The coalition says the seized vessel, the Rwabee, was carrying medical supplies.
To remind, the hijacking on January 3 raised fears that the conflict could spill over into the Red Sea, a vital route for Gulf oil and cargo shipments.
“UNMHA has requested as part of its mandate to undertake an inspection,” the statement said, adding that protecting the ports was “in the interest of the Yemeni people.”
Overall, from its side, the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen recently welcomed the UN’s move to inspect the ports of Hodeidah to ensure that they are not used militarily, as Saudi state TV reported.