UN Delegation in Taiz to Check Out Humanitarian Crisis

Yemen’s National Army Forces and the Popular Resistance in Ma’rib are fighting fierce battles against Houthi militias and the forces of the former Yemeni President, Ali Abdullah Saleh, to free Sirwah District and Jebel Hilan, the last stronghold of the rebels in Ma’rib, from the militias’ control.

Sources from the Popular Resistance in Ma’rib told Asharq Al-Awsat that around 17 Houthi militants were killed in fierce battles and that arm buffers were destroyed by the coalition aircrafts. The sources confirmed that the Resistance announced that freeing these areas has only become a matter of time.

Meanwhile, and for the first time, a UN delegation has visited Taiz city, which has been under siege for the past seven months.

Sources from Taiz told Asharq Al-Awsat that the delegation has visited some of the neighborhoods and streets of the city, in addition to some hospitals that were destroyed by the bombing and closed due to lack of oxygen and sufficient medical supplies as a result of the blockade imposed on the city.

UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs led the delegation accompanied by officials from UNICEF and other aid organizations.

The spokesman for the military council in Taiz, Col. Gen. Mansour al- Hassani, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the UN delegation was provided with files on the violations done by the rebel militias, adding that the delegation promised this won’t be the last visit, and that it visited Taiz in order to provide humanitarian aid to the province.