国产精品99一区二区三_免费中文日韩_国产在线精品一区二区_日本成人手机在线

UN humanitarian chief calls for urgent access to grain storage site in Yemen

Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-08 01:03:22|Editor: Mu Xuequan
Video PlayerClose

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock on Thursday asked the Houthi rebels in Yemen to grant urgent access to a major food storage site.

"I am deeply concerned that the United Nations has been unable to access the Red Sea Mills in Hodeidah since September 2018," said Lowcock in a statement. "Access to the mills grows ever more urgent as time passes and the risk of spoilage to the remaining grain increases."

Enough grain to feed 3.7 million people for a month has sat unused and possibly spoiling in silos at the mills for more than four months, while nearly 10 million people across the country remain just a step away from famine, noted Lowcock, who is also the world body's emergency relief coordinator.

"No one gains anything from this. But millions of starving people suffer."

To date, Houthi forces have declined to authorize the United Nations to cross front lines into government-controlled areas to access the mills, citing security concerns, said Lowcock. "Discussions continue with all parties, and I appreciate the genuine efforts that have been made on all sides to find a solution. But it remains elusive."

He asked all parties, in particular, the Houthis, to finalize an agreement and facilitate access to the mills "in the coming days."

Last month, two silos were hit by mortar shells landing in the compound of the mills. The resultant fire destroyed some of the grain -- probably enough to feed hundreds of thousands of people for a month, he noted.

The United Nations and its humanitarian partners are scaling up to reach 12 million people with emergency food assistance, which is a 50 percent increase over 2018 targets. In December, the World Food Programme reached more than 10 million people, a record achievement, said Lowcock.

"We can save huge numbers of people, most of them in areas controlled by Ansar Allah (Houthi rebels). But we need more help to do that from the authorities who control these areas."

An almost four-year-old war between Houthi rebels and forces loyal to the government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi has brought the country to the brink of famine.

TOP STORIES
EDITOR’S CHOICE
MOST VIEWED
EXPLORE XINHUANET
010020070750000000000000011105091378053971
主站蜘蛛池模板: 麦盖提县| 小金县| 北票市| 海门市| 荔波县| 皮山县| 甘肃省| 叙永县| 安庆市| 山东| 慈利县| 奉贤区| 台东市| 金寨县| 阜康市| 余干县| 龙陵县| 日土县| 曲周县| 青州市| 平阳县| 中牟县| 石门县| 义马市| 博兴县| 祁阳县| 郁南县| 从化市| 登封市| 江源县| 裕民县| 措勤县| 望城县| 缙云县| 锡林浩特市| 泉州市| 陇南市| 兴安县| 巴彦淖尔市| 巴东县| 余干县|