World Food Program To Suspend Aid If Not Given Access To Yemen Areas Controlled By Houthis

The World Food Program (WFP) said in a press release on Monday that it will consider suspending aid to areas in Yemen controlled by the Houthi movement if the WFP is not granted access to reach the most vulnerable populations

UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 20th May, 2019) The World Food Program (WFP) said in a press release on Monday that it will consider suspending aid to areas in Yemen controlled by the Houthi movement if the WFP is not granted access to reach the most vulnerable populations.

"If we are not given the access and freedom to decide who gets this vital assistance, then we will have to take the hard decision of implementing a phased suspension of our operations in Houthi controlled areas," the release said.

Aid workers had not been able to reach the Red Sea Mills for several months because it lies along the front lines of fighting in Al Hudaydah, but the WFP had regained access to the food storage in February.

The WFP said the Houthis have undercut its goal to feed some 12 million people in Yemen - almost a half of the population - by blocking aid convoys, interfering with food distribution and making it difficult for the WFP to independently select beneficiaries and roll out a biometric system to identify them.

The WFP also said it had contacted the Houthi leadership earlier this month, warning that it will partially suspend food operations if humanitarian access is not granted.

Under the Stockholm Agreement signed in December, the Yemeni government and rebel Houthi movement agreed to implement a ceasefire, exchange prisoners and open humanitarian corridors in Al Hudaydah.

Some 24 million people - or 80 percent of Yemen's population - require humanitarian aid and protection, according to the United Nations.