SANAA, Feb 13 (NNN-SABA) – The humanitarian assistance to Yemen’s northern areas could be reduced next month, due to escalating restrictions imposed by the Houthi rebel group, a UN official said, Wednesday.
“Threats, intimidation and restrictions against aid workers have been increasing in recent months, in the Houthi-controlled areas,” the UN official said.
“We face long delays in getting permits for assessing the needy people, distributing aid or treating food storage. The other reasons were, manipulation to the beneficiary lists and the (rebels’) refusal to permit the using of bio-metric registration system for preventing aid fraud.”
Meanwhile, Abdulmohsen Tawoos, head of the Houthi-run humanitarian affairs coordination council, said, “Measures taken by the authorities in Sanaa are primarily aimed at protecting the humanitarian aid organisations and their workers.”
“We will make every effort to overcome all problems … and provide all the facilities necessary for the success of the humanitarian organisations,” Tawoos said.– NNN-SABA
