‘Stop War in Yemen, Fund 100% of Humanitarian aid,’ top UN Official Tells Saudis

Forsaking the UN’s customary diplomatic stance, a leading official has directly blamed the Saudi-led coalition for Yemen’s devastating humanitarian crisis, urging Riyadh to fund aid and stop the conflict, which has raged since 2015.

“Saudi Arabia should fund 100 percent of the needs of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen,” David Beasley, executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme told Reuters, during a visit to Ethiopia. “Either stop the war or fund the crisis. Option three is, do both of them.”

With assistance from the US vessels, Saudi Arabia has imposed a naval blockade, as well as shutting key airports, in a bid to tip the balance in the stalemate between the deposed government it supports, and the Houthi rebels. According to a joint statement from several leading UN agencies in July, 60 percent of Yemen’s 20 million people are suffering from food insecurity, while 2 million children are acutely malnourished.

Particularly problematic is control over the port of Hodeidah, which was previously responsible for 80 percent of all food imports into the water-scarce country.

“We are having problems with access,” said Beasley.

RT

R.S