Hodeidah Port

The ongoing violation of human rights by Saudi and its GCC allies and the famine crisis in Yemen have reached a point of no return. The next step in their political game is the preparation of an attack on the Red Sea port of Hodeidah, a lifeline for millions of Yemenis suffering famine.

On Wednesday April 5, 2017, the UN stressed the necessity of safeguarding the strategic port of Hodeidah, which provides almost 80% of Yemen’s food imports. An attack on the port would only result in “more displacement, more institutional collapse, and more suffering”, the Office of Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen said.

In fact, because of the blockade and on air and land embargo imposed by the Saudi-led coalition keeping food and medical supplies entering the nation, more than 14 million innocent men, women and children are suffering malnutrition and are in desperate need for food and medical assistance. Recently, the EU has been the main actor in maintaining an international silence in regard to the crisis in Yemen because “they don’t feel it affects them”. International Medical Corps in Yemen director Giorgio Trombatore reminds that “the war is still going on. The bombing is still going on. I expect the situation to deteriorate”. There needs to be pressure coming from the international level, without it the war crimes in Yemen will never end.

ICSFT is deeply concerned over the serious humanitarian crisis in Yemen and urges the international community and relevant stakeholders to take action and voice their stances on the genocide in Yemen. The Saudi-led coalition must be stopped and must be held accountable for the suffering of millions of innocent Yemenis.