Yemen launches major offensive in Shabwa province

The Yemeni army began a massive offensive yesterday to retake areas in Bayhan and Asilan districts in the southern province of Shabwa, as fighting continue in the mountainous region of Naham northeast of Sana’a continued.

Meanwhile, the Saudi-led Arab Coalition intensified its attacks on Houthi positions and forces loyal to ousted president Ali Abdullah Saleh.

The head of relief work at the King Salman Relief Centre, Abdullah Ruwaili, told the Saudi Al-Hayat newspaper that the aid sent by Saudi Arabia to Yemen’s needy has been attacked by different parties, especially in Yemen’s north.

“The centre faces difficulties in its work including security threats in conflict areas and the prevention of the delivery of aid by certain parties for political purposes,” Ruwaili said, adding “some parties allow the passage of aid after stamping it with their political logo or direct it to a particular destination regardless of the humanitarian priority and the needs of each region.”

Ruwaili explained that the Arab Coalition provided humanitarian assistance by granting medical evacuation and other humanitarian aid to Yemenis, noting that the unmet requests for aid from the Arab Coalition have not exceeded five per cent.