UN: Migrant returns from Yemen postponed

By Fatih Erel

GENEVA (AA) - The UN migration agency, IOM on Friday said it has been forced to postpone its voluntary humanitarian return assistance to migrants stranded in Hudaydah due to the ongoing offensive.

"The same military operations have, so far, caused 5,775 Yemenis to flee their homes in the Hudaydah area since it began last Wednesday. This figure is set to increase over the coming days," IOM Yemen Chief of Mission, Sarat Dash said in a statement on Friday.

"A few weeks ago, it was almost unimaginable that the situation in Yemen -- already the world’s worst humanitarian crisis -- could have deteriorated even further to the extent that the military offensive on Hudaydah has caused," Dash said.

The World Food Programme (WFP) spokeswoman said on Friday it was "extremely concerned about the recent upsurge in fighting in Hodeidah [Hudaydah] governorate and city, which has already displaced around 26,000 people."

"Yemen has always imported most of its food – most of it by sea, with Hodeidah being the main gateway. WFP calls on all parties to the conflict to respect International Humanitarian Law, avoid targeting humanitarian food and fuel stocks and infrastructure and ensure continuous, unfettered access to Hodeidah Port," WFP spokeswoman Bettina Luescher told a news conference in Geneva on Friday.

"The fighting must stop now to avert what could be one of the worst hunger crises in living history,"

WFP estimated that the current upsurge in fighting could result in up to 1.1 million people being either displaced or trapped within Hudaydah city and in need of emergency food assistance.

"Twenty-five percent of children in Hodeidah are suffering from acute malnutrition. If nutritional support from humanitarian partners is disrupted, it risks the lives of almost 100,000 children," UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen Lise Grande said in a statement.