Houthi militia responsible for fuel shortage at Sanaa airport

Riyadh - Al Houthi militias have not allowed them to unload their cargo so far which raised questions about the intentions of the rebel militias and their supporters

The Arab coalition supporting legitimacy in Yemen has dispelled the impression that it was responsible for the fuel shortage at Sanaa airport for the aircraft of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) as the city is under the control of Al Houthi militias and forces belonging to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) quoted Colonel Turki Al Maliki, spokesman for the Arab coalition forces, as saying: "What has been reported by some media about the statement by the UNDP director in Yemen that the coalition is hampering supply of fuel to UN aircraft transporting humanitarian aid to Al Houthi-controlled Sanaa and the unavailability of jet fuel in the Yemeni capital ... as well as difficulties in obtaining permission from the coalition and the government of Yemen to transport jet fuel to Sanaa is untrue and baseless and includes a lot of false information."
Colonel Al Maliki explained that the coalition forces issued permits on a daily basis for the entry of fuel ships and basic and necessary material, as well as humanitarian and medical assistance to all Yemeni ports without exception, including the port of Hodeidah under the control of Al Houthi armed militias, indicating that the last permission granted to the United Nations was on July 29, 2017, which included the dispatching of an aviation fuel convoy from the city of Aden to Sanaa International Airport.
He pointed out that the coalition is only responsible for giving permits to ships on their entry to Yemeni ports, while the ship's entry from the dock till its arrival to berths to unload is the responsibility of the party controlling the port, and that permits relating to the movements of international relief convoys on the ground are subject to the approval of the legitimate government at the liberated territories and to the approval of Al Houthi militias as for the territories under their control. The coalition does not target convoys, including fuel tankers during their movement from ports to other Yemeni provinces, and they are also included in the daily non-targeting lists with special protection according to the rules of engagement.
Colonel Al Maliki pointed out that the coalition is following the presence of seven ships carrying fuel and were authorised to enter the port of Hodeidah. However, Al Houthi militias have not allowed them to unload their cargo so far which raised questions about the intentions of the rebel militias and their supporters, amid reports that the rebel militias are exploiting their control of some Yemeni ports to find a black market to raise money and support what they call war efforts in a flagrant challenge to all norms and humanitarian values as well as violation of international humanitarian law.
The spokesman stressed the keenness of the coalition and its diligent efforts in meeting the basic needs of the Yemeni people as well as allowing humanitarian aid at the Yemeni ports in the absence of a political solution in line with the Security Council Resolution 2216.

• MENA