Senior UN official says 200,000 civilians are
living in a state of "virtual siege" in the Yemeni
city.
The Saudi-led coalition launched the campaign
against the Houthis in March with the aim of
restoring President Hadi's government [EPA]
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The UN has accused Houthi fighters and their
allies of blocking the delivery of desperately
needed humanitarian supplies for 200,000
residents living in "virtual siege" in Yemen's
third-largest city of Taiz.
The besieged city has become one of the major
front lines in the fight for control of Yemen,
with Houthi forces battling with fighters loyal
to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and
Saudi-led coalition forces.
Aid agencies have been warning of a major
humanitarian disaster in the city for months,
with reports of dire food and water shortages
and hospitals struggling to function without
access to fresh medical supplies.
The UN's Under-Secretary for Humanitarian
Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
Stephen O'Brien said in a statement on
Tuesday that "some 200,000 vulnerable civilians
are living under a virtual state of siege".
"Al-Houthi and popular committees are blocking
supply routes and continue to obstruct the
delivery of urgently needed humanitarian aid
and supplies into Taiz City," O'Brien said.
"Those hospitals that are still functioning are
overwhelmed with wounded patients and face
severe shortages of doctors and nurses,
essential medicines and fuel.
"Despite repeated attempts by UN agencies and
our humanitarian partners to negotiate access
and reach people, our trucks have remained
stuck at checkpoints and only very limited
assistance has been allowed in."
O'Brien added that it was vital for all parties in
the battle to "do their utmost to protect all
civilians".
His statement came as fighting continued on
Wednesday, with sources telling Al Jazeera that
41 Houthi fighters were killed in coalition air
strikes and fighting with forces backing the
president who recently returned to Yemen from
exile in Saudi Arabia to help oversee the
offensive in Taiz .
The Saudi-led coalition launched the military
campaign against the Houthis in March with
the aim of restoring Hadi's government after
the rebels captured the capital and large parts
of the country.
At least 5,400 people have been killed, and at
least 1.5 million people have been displaced
since the war began.
living in a state of "virtual siege" in the Yemeni
city.
The Saudi-led coalition launched the campaign
against the Houthis in March with the aim of
restoring President Hadi's government [EPA]
Sign up for weekly stories behind the
headlines
Subscribe
Email Address
*
RELATED
Write a comment
FEATURED
The UN has accused Houthi fighters and their
allies of blocking the delivery of desperately
needed humanitarian supplies for 200,000
residents living in "virtual siege" in Yemen's
third-largest city of Taiz.
The besieged city has become one of the major
front lines in the fight for control of Yemen,
with Houthi forces battling with fighters loyal
to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and
Saudi-led coalition forces.
Aid agencies have been warning of a major
humanitarian disaster in the city for months,
with reports of dire food and water shortages
and hospitals struggling to function without
access to fresh medical supplies.
The UN's Under-Secretary for Humanitarian
Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
Stephen O'Brien said in a statement on
Tuesday that "some 200,000 vulnerable civilians
are living under a virtual state of siege".
"Al-Houthi and popular committees are blocking
supply routes and continue to obstruct the
delivery of urgently needed humanitarian aid
and supplies into Taiz City," O'Brien said.
"Those hospitals that are still functioning are
overwhelmed with wounded patients and face
severe shortages of doctors and nurses,
essential medicines and fuel.
"Despite repeated attempts by UN agencies and
our humanitarian partners to negotiate access
and reach people, our trucks have remained
stuck at checkpoints and only very limited
assistance has been allowed in."
O'Brien added that it was vital for all parties in
the battle to "do their utmost to protect all
civilians".
His statement came as fighting continued on
Wednesday, with sources telling Al Jazeera that
41 Houthi fighters were killed in coalition air
strikes and fighting with forces backing the
president who recently returned to Yemen from
exile in Saudi Arabia to help oversee the
offensive in Taiz .
The Saudi-led coalition launched the military
campaign against the Houthis in March with
the aim of restoring Hadi's government after
the rebels captured the capital and large parts
of the country.
At least 5,400 people have been killed, and at
least 1.5 million people have been displaced
since the war began.
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