Aid arrives in Yemen, first in 4 months

  • 22/07/2015
A humanitarian ceasefire declared by the United Nations earlier this month failed to take hold (Reuters)
A humanitarian ceasefire declared by the United Nations earlier this month failed to take hold (Reuters)

A ship carrying desperately-needed relief supplies has docked in Aden, the first UN vessel to reach the southern Yemeni city in four months of fighting.

"This is the first boat carrying the UN flag to dock in Aden since the war began" in late March, governor Nayef al-Bakri told reporters at the Aden refinery port on Tuesday (local time).

The ship is chartered by the World Food Programme, which has tried repeatedly to deliver aid to the port city in recent weeks but failed due to security reasons.

"This will be the first WFP chartered ship to reach the port in Aden," WFP spokeswoman Reem Nada said shortly before the ship entered the harbour.

Vessels sent by the United Arab Emirates managed to reach Aden in May.

A humanitarian ceasefire declared by the United Nations earlier this month failed to take hold.

Over the past week, forces loyal to exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi have recaptured most of Aden from Huthi Shi'ite rebels and their allies.

AFP