Arms blockade leads to food shortages

Ships carrying wheat and other goods are awaiting clearance to dock at Yemen ports

Yemen is facing mounting problems bringing in food by sea as the danger from fighting between Al Houthis and government supporters is exacerbated by an arms blockade by Saudi-led coalition navies searching ships for weapons destined for the rebels.

The Arabian peninsula’s poorest country, Yemen imports more than 90 per cent of its food, including most of its wheat and all its rice, to feed a population of 25 million, most of it by sea.

Several top international shipping lines have either pulled out or reduced port calls due to the violence.

Ship tracking and port data yesterday showed at least 10 ships, many carrying wheat and corn, were still waiting to enter Yemeni waters and discharge at ports, including Al Saleef and the bigger Red Sea port of Hodeida, which is controlled by Al Houthis.

Reuters reported two weeks ago at least five merchant ships were held up. Only two of those vessels have fully discharged so far with a third docked currently, ship tracking data and shipping sources said.

“Ships with wheat need to wait up to five days for permission to enter. Several seem to be delayed,” a German commodities trade source said.

The issue is that the coalition is not allowing any ship or plane into Yemeni territory without being cleared by its military forces.

The fighting had already caused logistical problems and hindered the delivery of food supplies, especially to southern areas, with the major port of Aden virtually shut. Coalition warships pounded an area close to the port on Sunday.

Travellers into Aden say a convoy of trucks carrying wheat from mills in Hodeida had been stuck for more than a week on the outskirts of Aden with Al Houthis refusing them to pass through to the city.

“Food has really become scarce in the markets because the imports ended and because people bought up large quantities for fear of the continuation of the war,” said Aref Al Hammadi, a shopkeeper in his thirties in Sana’a.