Local Editor
A closure of the Hodeida port would "bring disaster to Yemen," which is already on the brink of famine, the new head of the UN's World Food Programme warned.
There are rising fears that a Saudi-led military coalition could attack the Hodeida port, through which most of the country's food is imported.
"Ninety percent of the imports into Yemen come in through the port of Hodeida. Something like 80 percent of all the World Food Programme food comes through that port," David Beasley told AFP.
"So if that port is shut down for whatever reason, it would bring disaster to Yemen."
Hodeida, in the west of the country, is under the control of the Huthi Ansarullah movement.
The UN, along with aid and rights groups warned that a military offensive against the port would be "devastating".
"If that port gets closed down, the risk of famine substantially increases," said Beasley.
"Let's pray and hope that doesn't happen."
Yemen, already one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, has suffered a downward spiral in living conditions since the start of the Saudi-led bombardment, with the UN warning earlier this year that a third of its provinces were on the brink of famine.
Beasley said the WFP was doing contingency planning in case Hodeida became inaccessible, but said any alternative would stretch already limited funds.
The UN says 17 million Yemenis -- or around 60 percent of the population -- are unable to access food.
"Children and men and women are dying now," Beasley said.
Source: News Agencies, Edited by Website Team
