Saudi vows to cover UN aid call for Yemen keeps up air raids
Date
8/7/2015 12:08:57 PM
(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Sanaa-
Saudi Arabia pledged on Saturday to cover the entire US$274mn in humanitarian aid sought by the UN for conflict-torn Yemen where a Saudi-led coalition has been bombing Shiite rebels for three weeks.
The United Nations says hundreds of people have died and thousands of families fled their homes in the war which has also killed six Saudi security personnel in border skirmishes.
At least 27 people died in the southwestern city of Taez during overnight clashes between loyalist forces and the Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels as well as in coalition air raids medical sources said.
That followed strikes by coalition warplanes on Friday around the Houthi rebel-held capital Sanaa where thick clouds of grey smoke and a fireball rose from one military post.
Saudi King Salman ordered the humanitarian pledge following a United Nations appeal on Friday for US$274mn in emergency assistance for the millions affected by Yemen's war.
The kingdom 'stands with its Yemeni brothers' and hopes for 'the restoration of security and stability' the state Saudi Press Agency said quoting an official statement.
UN Humanitarian Coordinator Johannes Van Der Klaauw said in the appeal: "Ordinary families are struggling to access healthcare water food and fuel - basic requirements for their survival."
Aid has only trickled into Yemen largely because of restrictions imposed by the coalition on its airspace and ports.
The rebels swept into Sanaa last September from their highland stronghold and then advanced south on the port of Aden forcing President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi to flee to Riyadh.
Residents said explosions and gunfire shook Taez overnight during fighting between Hadi loyalists and the insurgents.
Nineteen rebels four soldiers from a mechanised army unit loyal to the president and four other pro-Hadi fighters were killed a medical source said.
Rival fighters also clashed on Friday night in districts of Aden the main southern city residents and security sources said.
Pro-Hadi forces backed by airstrikes held off rebels battling for the past week for control of Aden's refinery 15km west of the city.