Amidst clashes in Aden, UN calls for civilian protection in Yemen

UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Tuesday called on all parties in Yemen's violence-wracked key southern city of Aden to abide by the obligations under international humanitarian law to protect civilians and "afford safe medical care" to casualties.

"We are extremely concerned by the violence we have seen over the last couple of days, especially the armed clashes between the so-called Southern Transitional Council (STC) and government forces," chief UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters at UN headquarters.

"We've seen reports of a large number of dead, injured," he said. "This only adds to the current suffering of the people of Yemen ... the people of that region of Yemen."

"We call on all parties to abide by their obligations under international humanitarian law," the spokesman said. "It's paramount that civilians are protected and that the wounded are afforded safe medical care and that all sides facilitate life-saving access."

Aden has been the temporary capital of the internationally recognized Yemeni government which had been forced to flee from its traditional seat in Sanaa in a civil war. Now, published reports say the government is accusing the STC, previously a supporter, of attempting a coup with its fighting in the streets.

Dujarric also flagged some indications of success in getting long-delayed humanitarian aid into to the poverty-stricken nation.

"Six vessels are currently offloading at (the port of) Hudaydah -- three carrying a combined 61,700 metric tons of food and three carrying a combined 33,265 metric tons of fuel," he said. "There are seven other vessels at the anchorage area, carrying a combined 53,000 metric tons of fuel, awaiting to dock."

The spokesman said that so far this month over 290,000 metric tons of food and over 165,000 tons of fuel were imported via Hudaydah and Saleef ports, representing 82 and 30 percent of the respective national imports requirements.

As a result of the fighting in Yemen, food prices have soared, he said. "The price of food increased between 26 and 85 percent after the start of the (port) blockade in November and December." Enditem