United Nations aid agencies pleaded for the Yemeni port of Hodeidah to remain open past Friday, when the Saudi-led military coalition is supposed to close the port, in order to enable the delivery of life-saving goods.
Yemen is hit by humanitarian crisis as 8.3 million people are entirely dependent on external food aid and 400,000 children suffer from acute malnutrition, a condition that can be proven fatal for their life.
The Arab coalition proceeded to pause a three-week blockade in Yemeni ports, which had been imposed when the Houthis movement fired a ballistic missile toward the Saudi capital Riyadh, Reuters reports.
The opening of the Hodeidah port is very crucial for the country. Through the port, fuel is transported, which is vital for the operation of water and sanitation stations, in order to prevent diseases, Meritxell Relano, U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative in Yemen, was cited as saying.
Yemen faces a big hunger crisis, with about 11 million Yemeni children, needing humanitarian help. Therefore, it is very important that food gets into the country, as well as medicines, in order to prevent famine, World Food Programme (WFP) spokeswoman Bettina Luescher urged.
Some positive news concern the arrival of four cranes at the Hodeidah port, according to the U.N., which the Saudi-led coalition allowed to enter Yemen. The cranes will be operational immediately and will significantly enhance the supply of humanitarian cargo and other relief goods, Reuters concludes.