Local Editor

The United Nations’ World Food Program [WFP] pleaded on Friday for the "safe and immediate access" to the Yemeni city of Taiz, where food aid last reached the besieged city five weeks ago, warning that "if this situation continues the damage from hunger will be irreversible".

"We plead for safe and immediate access to the city of Taiz to prevent a humanitarian tragedy as supplies dwindle, threatening the lives of thousands - including women, children and the elderly", said Muhannad Hadi, WFP Regional Director for the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Meanwhile, the UN’s World Health Organization [WHO] condemned Monday’s bombing of the Doctors Without Borders/ Médecins Sans Frontières [MSF] hospital in northern Yemen.

Saying the bombing will leave 200,000 people with no access to lifesaving medical care, WHO said that the attack violated humanitarian law and urged parties in the conflict to respect the safety and neutrality of health workers and health facilities.

In southern Yemen, WFP reported that the recent deterioration in security in Taiz has had a severe impact on food and fuel availability and prices. 

Taiz and nine other of Yemen’s 22 governorates have been classified as facing food insecurity at ’emergency’ level - one step below famine on a five-point international scale.

Food assistance last reached Taiz more than five weeks ago through WFP’s local partner, the agency said.

About a third of the country’s population- 7.6 million people- urgently require food aid, according to recent estimates as the WFP said.

Since March 26, a Saudi-led coalition backed by the United States has been carrying out a military aggression on Yemen by launching airstrikes against the country. The airstrikes have not been authorized by the UN.