World

Yemen’s Hodeidah Port Stays Open Despite Upsurge in Fighting - UN Spokesman

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The Yemeni port of Al Hodeidah remains open despite an upsurge in fighting, including airstrikes and artillery shelling in the southern and eastern outskirts of the city, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters on Monday.
Sputnik

"Hodeidah’s port remains operational and Yemen depends… on imports for 90 percent of its staple food and nearly all food and fuel," Dujarric said. "Most imports enter through Hudaydah or Salif ports."

Humanitarian agencies have not observed large-scale displacements from Al Hodeidah due to weekend fighting, Dujarric said. But he warned large-scale displacement could quickly occur if fighting moves deeper into the city.

READ MORE: Trump Accuses Saudi Arabia of Unskillful Use of US Weapons in Yemen

Since the beginning of June, more than 570,000 people have been displaced by conflict across the Al Hodeidah governorate, nearly all of whom have been reached with emergency relief packages, Dujarric said.

Yemen’s Houthis Say Attacked Saudi Air Base in Response to Airstrikes - Reports
Throughout Yemen, the UN estimates that at least 8 million face the threat of starvation in one of the world’s worst man-made humanitarian disasters.

Airstrikes by a Saudi-led coalition in support of Yemen’s internationally recognized government are attempting to dislodge Houthi rebels that control most of the nation’s eastern governorates and the capital of Sanaa.

Discuss