UN Urges Saudi Arabia and Its Allies to Facilitate Imports to Yemen

The UN's emergency aid coordinator urged the Saudi-led military coalition, which controls Yemen's ports, to facilitate the import of essential food and fuel to the country, warning that by the end of this calendar year, an additional 10 million people in Yemen will face the risk of starvation. According to Reuters, after three years of war between Yemen's government forces, supported by the Saudi-led military coalition, and Houthi rebels, the situation in the country has turned into the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with about 8.4 million people facing severe food shortages and the threat of famine. Mark Lowcock, the UN's emergency aid coordinator, stated in Geneva on Friday, "I am particularly concerned about the reduction of consumer goods imports through the Red Sea ports." The Saudi-led military coalition blocked all Yemeni ports late last year to prevent the shipment of arms to the Houthi rebels, severely impacting the living conditions of people in Yemen, who rely on imports for about 90% of their food needs. Under international pressure, the coalition ended the blockade of Yemeni ports but intensified the control and inspection of ships. Lowcock noted, "The amount of food and fuel imports is still lower than before the blockade of the ports. If the situation does not improve, another 10 million people will be at risk of starvation." He added, "The confidence of commercial ships has decreased due to delays in the transfer of goods to Yemeni ports, partly due to inspections by the Saudi-led military coalition, despite the UN having approved the ships." Reuters adds that the UN announced last month that it would expedite inspections of ships to accelerate the transfer of humanitarian aid. Lowcock said, "I urge the Yemeni government to take effective measures, with the support of the military coalition, to expedite the import of food, fuel, and other humanitarian aid through Yemeni ports." The UN emergency aid coordinator also mentioned that the Houthi rebels impose further restrictions on aid organizations in the areas they control in the north of the country, making the work of these organizations more difficult in the western coasts of Yemen and the city of Taiz. The Saudi-led military coalition continues its airstrikes in support of the Yemeni government, which is recognized by the international community. In response, Houthi rebels have repeatedly fired missiles into Saudi territory. So far, about 10,000 people have been killed in the Yemen war, and around 3 million have been displaced, with cholera outbreaks occurring and potentially spreading again due to the ongoing rainy season. Lowcock stated that some essential items, including medicines and necessary equipment to combat deadly diseases that thrive in water, are still on the list of goods banned from being imported into Yemen.