Saudi’s potential attack on Yemen’s port of Hudaydah may kill 250,000, UN says

The United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Yemen has warned that a military assault on the vital Yemeni port city of Hudaydah by the Saudi regime and its coalition partners may kill 250,000 people.

The United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Yemen has warned that a military assault on the vital Yemeni port city of Hudaydah by the Saudi regime and its coalition partners may kill 250,000 people.

“A military attack or siege on Hudaydah will impact hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians,” said Lise Grande in a statement released on Friday, pointing to Saudi Arabia’s long-standing threat to launch an attack on Yemen’s only entry gate for much needed basic supplies and humanitarian aid.

“In a prolonged worst case, we fear that as many as 250,000 people may lose everything, even their lives,” added the UN official.

On Tuesday, a spokesman for the Saudi coalition declared that allied forces were 20 kilometers from Hudaydah, which is controlled by Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah movement. The spokesman, however, did not elaborate on potential plans to launch an attack to seize the port, which serves as the main entry point for supplies needed to ease the famine and cholera epidemic.