The vast majority of international aid to Yemen — both food and medicine — flows through the port of Hodeida, a city of 400,000. Government forces are reportedly within 20 kilometers (12 miles) of Hodeida. International NGOs and aid workers warn against an attack on the city, saying it would result in a humanitarian disaster that would extend far beyond the city limits. The UN said this week it's "extremely concerned" about the situation in Hodeida.
Jan Egeland, secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said the situation is rapidly deteriorating in the suburbs of Hodeida, and warned against all-out war in the city.
"The coalition ground forces are now at the doorstep of this heavily fortified, heavily mined port city," he said. "Thousands of civilians are fleeing from the outskirts of Hodeida which is now a battle zone. We cannot have war in Hodeida," he added, "it would be like war in Rotterdam or Antwerp, these are comparable cities in Europe."
Jan Egeland, secretary-general of the Norwegian Refugee Council, said the situation is rapidly deteriorating in the suburbs of Hodeida, and warned against all-out war in the city.
"The coalition ground forces are now at the doorstep of this heavily fortified, heavily mined port city," he said. "Thousands of civilians are fleeing from the outskirts of Hodeida which is now a battle zone. We cannot have war in Hodeida," he added, "it would be like war in Rotterdam or Antwerp, these are comparable cities in Europe."
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