conflict and humanitarian aid

On 13 June 2018, The Saudi- and UAE-led coalition launched an attack on Hodeida, Yemen’s lifeline port. One week on, the Coalition has ignored all warnings and combined forces have pressed ahead to take Hodeida airport. The advance must now stop and efforts be refocused on peace. Taking the battle to a densely-populated city will have a much higher humanitarian toll.

The Saudi - and UAE - led Coalition’s assault on Hodeida – Yemen’s lifeline port – threatens hundreds of thousands of civilians in that city, and around 20 million more who rely on its imports of food, fuel, medicine and other supplies. The strategy to prevent this assault through quiet diplomacy has failed. For the sake of millions of Yemenis, the time for a more effective strategy is now.

The prolonged closure of crossings into Gaza could cut Palestinians off from essential goods such as fuel and food, threatening to further deteriorate what is already a dire humanitarian situation.