WFP urges aid access to Yemen in fight for port of Hodeidah

SANAA, June 17 (YPA) – The World Food Program called on all the parties to the conflict in Yemen’s Hodeidah to maintain a free food flow through the port city.

The WFP’s director for Yemen Stephen Anderson made the call on Saturday while voicing deep concerns over the humanitarian situation due to the coalition’s offensive on Hodeidah.

The UN agency is appealing “to maintain the free flow of food and fuel and both commercial and humanitarian for the people who need it most,” he said.

Anderson noted that basic needs of those Hodeidah’s civilians are not being satisfied while warning the worsening situation in the port will have a “major impact” on its inhabitants.

The World Health Organization also expressed concern over the fighting in and around the, calling for unbroken aid access and protection of health workers present in Yemen.

“We stand with our U.N. partners to call on all parties to the conflict to protect the port and allow its uninterrupted functioning. We also call on all parties to protect health workers and their facilities from harm, as well as to ensure unimpeded access for medical teams seeking to treat the wounded,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

He added that Hodeidah port is  “an essential lifeline” for Yemen, saying that “more than 70% of all food, essential medicines, and healthcare supplies are brought in through this port.”

E.M