Yemen: reopening of ports to aid only is pitiful bartering with people's lives

In response to the Saudi Arabia-led coalition's announcement to reopen Hodeidah port and Sanaa airport to humanitarian assistance, Oxfam says this is an empty gesture while millions of Yemenis sees their lives threatened by the two-week blockade on the country. 

Shane Stevenson, Oxfam's Country Director in Yemen said: "Reopening the ports to aid but not to commercial imports is pitiful bartering with people's lives. We're facing the worst famine seen in decades, and that won’t change unless commercial shipments of food and fuel are allowed in. This brinksmanship has to stop. All sea and air ports must be fully reopened immediately to both humanitarian and commercial access to save millions of innocent Yemeni people."