AFP, Aden :
The Red Cross warned on Tuesday of a “catastrophic” situation in Yemen’s main southern city Aden, as forces loyal to the president battled Iran-backed Shiite rebels in the streets.
The Huthi rebels and their allies made a new push on a port in the central Mualla district of the city, but were forced back by militia supporting President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, witnesses said.
Naval forces of the Saudi-led coalition, which has carried out nearly two weeks of air strikes in support of Hadi, shelled rebel positions across the city, the witnesses said, though the coalition denied launching a naval combat operation.
International Committee of the Red Cross spokeswoman Marie Claire Feghali said the humanitarian situation across Yemen was “very difficult… (with) naval, air and ground routes cut off.”
The situation in Aden was “catastrophic to say the least”.
“The war in Aden is on every street, in every corner… Many are unable to escape,” she said.
General Ahmed Assiri, spokesman for the coalition, however, said many parts of the city remained “stable”.
The Huthi rebels and their allies made a new push on a port in the central Mualla district of the city, but were forced back by militia supporting President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, witnesses said.
Naval forces of the Saudi-led coalition, which has carried out nearly two weeks of air strikes in support of Hadi, shelled rebel positions across the city, the witnesses said, though the coalition denied launching a naval combat operation.
International Committee of the Red Cross spokeswoman Marie Claire Feghali said the humanitarian situation across Yemen was “very difficult… (with) naval, air and ground routes cut off.”
The situation in Aden was “catastrophic to say the least”.
“The war in Aden is on every street, in every corner… Many are unable to escape,” she said.
General Ahmed Assiri, spokesman for the coalition, however, said many parts of the city remained “stable”.
