The Minister of Local Administration and the Chairman of the Higher Committee for Relief Sergeant Abdul Raqeeb Fath held Houthi militias and those loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh responsible for seizing three trucks loaded with humanitarian aid and relief belonging to the World Food Programme.

According to the Yemeni news agency SABA, the minister accused the “Houthi militias of seizing three trucks loaded with humanitarian, food and medical aid that were on their way to the governorate of Al-Bayda and that had been allocated to the district of Dhi Na’im. He demanded that the World Food Programme take a clear stance against the inhumane actions carried out by the militia including detaining and seizing aid convoys and trucks that were intended for needy people in governorates that are under their control. He also called on international organisations, especially those that are part of the UN, to put pressure on the militias to stop such actions.

Fath also stressed that these Houthi militias “with these immoral acts, are further complicating the humanitarian situation in the governorates that are under the control of the militias and increasing the proportion of famine and the outbreak of diseases.” He requested that the aid be released and that it reaches its intended recipients.

There have been violent clashes between the Houthi militias and the Yemeni army on the Nahum front, east Sanaa, after the army made advances and seized strategic and important sites with the support of Arab coalition aircraft.