Harbor battle threatens Yemen with famine

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Saudi-led coalition asphyxiates the country by its blockade in the Red Sea.
By Marie Bourreau
“All parties” of the conflict in Yemen “have hampered the distribution of humanitarian aid in the country,” said a UN expert group that delivered a detailed report to the Security Council at the end of January , Released on Thursday (February 23rd). The experts point out the responsibility for the blockade imposed by the coalition led by Saudi Arabia since March 2015 to areas under the control of Houthi rebels and troops loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.
The rebels are backed by Iran, a major Shiite rival in the region, with political support backed by small arms deliveries, according to the UN. “Rising insurance costs due to war risks, problems related to currency exchange, as well as the arrest, restraint and diversion of some commercial vessels impair the distribution of food,” notes the report. The experts also point out “the prohibition of movement, the intimidation of humanitarian personnel and the imposition of conditions as to where and how to distribute the aid” .
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Source: http://www.lemonde.fr/