250,000 could die if UAE attacks ‘lifeline’ Yemen port

Britain steps up diplomatic efforts to avert assault that aid workers fear could end in humanitarian disaster

BRITAIN last night urged the UAE not to press ahead with an assault on Yemen’s main port following UN warnings that the attack could lead to the deaths of hundreds of thousands in a country already on the brink of famine.

UAE forces are poised to attack the port of Hodeidah as early as today as part of their campaign with Saudi Arabia to defeat the Houthi rebels who have seized much of north Yemen.

Around 70 per cent of Yemen’s imports, including the vast majority of its food, comes through the “lifeline” Hodeidah port. The UN said last week that up to 250,000 people could die if it was attacked or besieged.

“We will continue to discourage any attack on Hodeidah port and will continue to use our influence to do so,” Alistair Burt, a Foreign Office minister, told the House of Commons.

The Department for International Development (Dfid) warned international aid groups on Saturday that diplomatic negotiations to avert an attack were failing. “We are doing everything we can through diplomatic channels to discourage an assault... However, a military assault now looks imminent,” Dfid said in an email to aid groups. Yesterday evening, diplomatic efforts to dissuade the UAE were still under way and UK officials said they had not lost hope.

The UK sells weapons to both the UAE and Saudi Arabia and provides logistical support for their military coalition in Yemen. Mr Burt resisted calls from opposition MPS to halt arms supplies or to ensure that UK weapons were not used in the Hodeidah attack.

Several aid agency figures said they believed an attack was likely today, with attention focused on the Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un summit.

The Saudi-led military coalition in Yemen, which includes the UAE, did not respond to a request for comment.

UN officials believe the US will play the deciding role in whether or not the attack goes ahead and that the UAE would not move forward without a green light from the White House. “So far they have a blinking yellow light from the US,” one official said. Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, said he was “closely following” the situation but did not call for the UAE to hold fire.

Dr Mariam Aldogani, a field manager for Save the Children, said two medical facilities had already closed as the UAE forces approached the southern edge of Hodeidah. “People are afraid,” she said. “If they attack it will be a disaster.” ♦ Qatar yesterday said it had brought a case against the UAE at the International Court of Justice, accusing its Gulf rival of human rights “violations” and “discrimination” against Qatar and its citizens. A year ago, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism and Iran. Doha has denied the claims.