The attack on the Port of Hodeidah in Yemen has advanced this week, as UAE-backed Yemeni forces have gained more territory, which now puts them about five miles away from the Port.
Until now, the Port of Hodeidah remains open, but the main roads that are leading to the south and east of the city are closed to aid convoys, the UN World Food Program informed. In addition, the port of Mokha, which is near the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb, is closed as well.
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Reporting on the situation in Yemen, Medecins Sans Frontieres noted that there are heavy ground fighting, shelling and naval bombardment in Hodeidah since the beginning of the month.
Taking into consideration the extremely difficult situation in the country, United Nations aid agencies pleaded for the Yemeni port of Hodeidah to remain open, 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.
In addition, 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.
Moreover, responding to the threats arising from the conflict in Yemen, BIMCO, ICS and INTERTANKO have published a guidance on maritime security in the southern Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb, urging shipowners and operators to be aware of new threat patterns in the area.
The guidance highlights the use of the Maritime Security Transit Corridor, the registration with MSCHOA and reporting to UKMTO, as well as reviewing and updating risk assessments and plans to include new threats.
The European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) and the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) advised that a range of threats, except from piracy, like sea mines and water-borne improvised explosive devices WBIEDs, are potential risks in the area. The guidance also includes identified threat types, including WBIEDs and complements the guidance provided in BMP 4.
