Coalition prevents oil derivatives shipments from entering Hodeidah port

HODEIDAH, Sept. 23 (YPA) – The Saudi-led coalition forces are holding a ship loaded with oil derivatives and obstructing three others from entering Hodeidah port, western Yemen, an official at the port told Yemen Press Agency on Sunday.

“The coalition prevents the arrival of ships to the port of Hodeidah despite obtaining a permit from the United Nations,” the official said.

Holding the ships by the coalition comes in response to demands of the international community to not intercept the merchant and aid relief vessels coming to the port, he added.

On Saturday, the coalition accused a United Nations ship of smuggling weapons to the port of Hodeidah. The United Nations has not responded to this charge yet.

The capital Sanaa and other Yemeni provinces have been experiencing a severe economic crisis, a severe shortage of oil derivatives and rising prices, as fighting intensified in the city of Hodeidah, which prevented the arrival of relief aid and oil products to the port that receives 80 percent of needs of the population.

b a m