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Houthis prevent aid entering Taiz

October 24, 2016 at 2:26 pm

Houthi militias prevented a UNICEF aid convoy from entering the besieged city of Taiz on Saturday, Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported.

This happened during the ceasefire, despite the fact that not stopping aid convoys is considered a violation of the ceasefire conditions. In some areas, such as Taiz, ceasefires are the only times international organisations are able to provide relief to civilians suffering in Yemen.

Ali Al-Maamari, the governor of Taiz, told Asharq Al-Awsat that Houthi militias and militias loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh violated the ceasefire several times.

He reiterated that their decision to prevent aid convoys from entering the city was a deliberate abuse of the truce. He also criticised what he believed to be international organisations’ lack of effort in Taiz. “We believe that international organisations can offer more and can be more efficient in Taiz, but they are not doing so.”

Juliette Touma, UNICEF’s media officer, said the organisation was maintaining contact with the various warring parties to secure the distribution of humanitarian aid to children and residents in the most vulnerable areas in Yemen.

“[UNICEF] urges all warring parties to guarantee the delivery of humanitarian assistance to all children in need across the country, and to allow the distribution of humanitarian aid in legitimate means,” she added.