The United Nations resident coordinator and humanitarian coordinator for Yemen Julien Harneis announced that vital aid flights to the capital of Yemen, blocked for a month by the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels, will resume this month, allowing critical supplies to reach millions in need amid a worsening humanitarian crisis,
Harneis added in a statement the Houthis' decision on Tuesday to approve flights for the month of February will allow aid groups to enter and exit the capital, Sanaa, which is under the rebels’ control,
The U.N. has warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Yemen with some 21 million people needing aid, including millions living in Houthi-controlled areas.
On Friday, the U.N. had said the Houthis had not let the U.N. Humanitarian Air Service fly to Sanaa for over a month or to the city of Marib for over four months. These flights are the only way for NGO workers to enter and exit Houthi-controlled areas, Harneis said, and U.N. operations are limited to government-held areas.
The Houthis have previously described the work of some U.N. agencies as a political, military and intelligence operation aimed at subjugating Yemenis - allegations the United Nations denies.