UN aid chief Mark Lowcock warned on Saturday that Yemen was “on the brink of a major catastrophe”, as the world body pushes for peace talks in the country.
His comments came after renewed deadly clashes between Houthi rebels and pro-government forces in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, vital for the flow of humanitarian aid.
“Yemen is on the brink of a major catastrophe,” Mr. Lowcock said, as he wrapped up a visit to the country.
He said conditions had deteriorated alarmingly since his last visit in October 2017 to Yemen, which the UN has termed the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
“In Aden, I met emaciated children so malnourished they could barely open their eyes,” Mr. Lowcock said in a statement.
He reiterated the UN’s readiness to play a role to ensure that the rebel-held Hodeidah port, a key entry point for imports and aid, can remain open.
Under heavy international pressure, Saudi-backed pro-government forces have largely suspended an offensive launched in June to take the port city.
Sporadic clashes have however continued since a fragile truce began on November 13. Fighting on Friday in the east and south of Hodeidah left 10 fighters dead, an official and medical sources said on Saturday.
Medical sources confirmed that the bodies of eight rebels had been transferred to hospitals, and that two fighters with pro-government forces were also killed.
