Turkish Red Crescent distributes food in Yemen

By Afra Aksoy

ADEN, Yemen (AA) - The Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay) distributed 123 food packages to families of orphan children in southern Yemen.

Mustafa Aydin, head of Kizilay delegation, told Anadolu Agency the food was part of aid agency's support program in the country.

"We want to alleviate to some extent the suffering of children who were orphaned during clashes that continue for more than four years in the country," said Aydin.

He said Kizilay previously distributed more than 5,000 food packages in Yemen and said food aid programs covering provinces are planned in the coming months.

Isam Vadi, head of Yemen Charity Associations and Unions, was grateful to the Turkish people for their humanitarian work in the country.

Yemen has been wracked by violence since 2014 when the Shia Houthi group overran much of the country. The crisis escalated in 2015 when the Saudi-led coalition launched a devastating air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi gains.

Saudi Arabia and its Sunni allies accuse the Houthis of acting as a proxy force for Shia Iran.

Turkey is among the biggest donors sending humanitarian aid to the crisis-stricken country.

Tens of thousands of people, including civilians, are believed to have been killed and the UN estimates 14 million Yemenis are at risk of famine.