Two Arab Coalition Planes With Humanitarian Aid Land in Yemen

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Two aircraft carrying humanitarian aid sent by the Saudi-led coalition of Arab states landed in the airport of the southern Yemeni city of Aden, a pro-government militia leader told Sputnik Thursday.

“Two Arab coalition Planes with humanitarian aid have just landed in the airport of Aden,” Salim Salman said.

Following the liberation of Aden from Houthi militants, announced Friday, Yemen's Transport Minister Badr Mubarak Ba-Salma urged international humanitarian organizations to provide the city's residents with aid. He added that three ports in Aden were ready to receive cargo, and airport services have been restored by a technical team from the United Arab Emirates.

The United Arab Emirates and the UN World Food Programme have responded by sending ships with food and pharmaceutical aid which safely docked in Aden Tuesday.

According to Salman, the arrival of the aircraft is part of the humanitarian air bridge between Saudi Arabia and Yemen, previously announced by the commander-in-chief of the Saudi Navy.

Fighting between forces loyal to Yemeni President-in-exile Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi and Houthi militants intensified in early 2015. A coalition of Arab states, at Hadi's request, began conducting airstrikes on areas of Yemen controlled by the Houthis since March.

According to the UN statistics, more than 21.1 million people are in need of aid, of which 13 million are faced with food shortages.