The Saudi-led Arab coalition has denied allegations made by the UN that it is hampering humanitarian efforts of the United Nations Development Program in Yemen by preventing supply of aircraft fuel to rebel-controlled Sanaa. Col. Turki Al-Malki, coalition spokesman, said Sanaa is under the control of Houthi militias and forces of ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh. The coalition forces issue daily permits for entry of ships bringing basic needs and medical assistance to all Yemeni ports without exception, including the Hodeidah Port which is under the control of the Houthi armed militias. The Arab coalition spokesman said that the latest permissions granted to the UN was on July 29 this year, including one for a convoy of aircraft fuel from Aden to Sanaa International Airport. The coalition is only responsible for giving permission to ships entering Yemeni ports. The responsibility of overseeing the ships from the docks to the berths lies with the group controlling the port. The legitimate government in the liberated territories issues permits for relief convoys in these areas, while the Houthis control the movement of goods in the areas under their command. Al-Malki further elaborated that the coalition forces do not target the movement of convoys, including fuel tankers, when they move from ports to the Yemeni provinces. These convoys are listed as ‘non-targets' and are accorded special protection, according to the rules of engagement. The coalition was monitoring the movement of seven ships carrying fuel and authorized supplies, and had cleared them for entering the Hodeidah Port. But the Houthis refused to allow the ships to unload their cargo with the deliberate intention of blocking basic necessities from entering. The spokesman said documented evidence exists of the coup militias exploiting their control of some Yemeni ports. Their plan is to block basic necessities, create a black market for them, and raise money to fund their war effort, in flagrant violation of all humanitarian values and international law. He stressed the strong intention of the coalition to meet the basic needs of the Yemeni people in the absence of a political solution and the continued intransigence of the coup militias. The coalition saw it as a duty to uphold humanitarian values in the interest of the common people in Yemen and uphold Security Council Resolution 2216. Al-Malki noted that the coalition's command has been operating since the very beginning of the military operations and continues to exert all efforts to meet the requests for entry of ships into all Yemeni ports. It also supports the efforts of the international humanitarian organizations, including the UN, operating in Yemen. The UNDP director in Yemen had accused the coalition of hampering fuel supplies meant for UN aircraft transporting humanitarian aid to the Houthi-controlled Yemeni capital. The UN official said that two UN aircraft had found it difficult to return after completing their mission as they had run out of fuel and the coalition would not allow the entry of fuel shipments into Sanaa. The UNDP director in Yemen has unfortunately disregarded the coalition's humanitarian and relief efforts in Yemen, such as its efforts to fight cholera in the country. The coalition's efforts have led to a recovery rate of cholera patients to 99 percent. The coalition spokesman voiced surprise over the silence of the UN about the coup militias' pilfering of supplies substantiated by documented reports submitted by the legitimate government and coalition forces. The UN has also refused to deploy international inspectors at the Hodeidah Port to stop such thefts and smuggling of weapons. Col. Turki Al-Malki
