UN greatly concerned for lives of civilians in Yemen's Hudaydah

Rasa - The United Nations Yemen envoy has voiced great concerns over Saudi Arabia-backed militants attacks on the port city of Hudaydah.

News ID: 438084

Date: 06 June 2018 - 22:01

RNA - "Apart from the avoidable humanitarian consequences of such a battle, I am also very concerned about the impact (on) chances of a political settlement of this conflict," said Martin Griffiths on Tuesday.

Griffiths, who was wrapping up a three-day visit to Yemen, added that talks had been positive, but further stressed that the military action on Hudaydah would have a negative impact on its civilian population.

"We are working very hard, focusing every day on moving forward in the political process. My aim is to restart negotiations which have not taken place for a very long time – for too long – and I want that to restart in the very near future," he added.

Griffiths is scheduled to give a report to the UN Security Council on June 18.

On Monday, a United Nations vessel delivering humanitarian aid to the Yemeni port of Hudaydah came under a suspected Saudi attack.

According to Press TV, Yemen’s Red Sea Ports Corporation that the vessel used by the UN’s World Food Program (WFP) was attacked after delivering a shipment at Hudaydah.

Hudaydah, a port in western Yemen which is controlled by the ruling Houthi Ansarullah movement, is under a blockade by Saudi Arabia and its allies fighting the Houthis.

Reports over the past weeks have indicated that Saudi Arabia and its allies have been advancing on Hudaydah, launching frequent attacks on port authorities and guards patrolling at sea.

Riyadh claims that Yemen’s Ansarullah movement uses the port for weapons delivery.

According to figures released by the Yemeni Ministry of Human Rights, more than 600,000 people have been killed or injured in the Saudi war since 2015.

The illegal campaign, which is meant to restore power to former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, has also displaced hundreds of thousands of Yemenis while exacerbating the humanitarian plight of millions already affected by poverty and malnutrition in the Arabian Peninsula’s poorest nation.

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