Afkham: Iran humanitarian aid to Yemen sent in coordination with UN

Tehran, May 13, IRNA – Foreign Ministry spokesperson Marziyeh Afkham said dispatching of Iran’s foodstuff and medical aid to Yemen has already started and will be delivered soon to the Yemeni people with the help of the United Nations. Iran hoped to deliver its humanitarian package to the Yemeni people with the help of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) as soon as possible, Afkham stresse commenting on Iran's humanitarian aid for Yemen. She expressed sorrow over the ongoing siege of the Arab country by aggressive states in the past 50 days noting this has made the living conditions in Yemen so harsh and 'near to a humanitarian catastrophe.' The spokeswoman further said the countries involved in war against Yemenis will not be allowed to inspect the ship which is carrying Iran’s humanitarian aid. Iran has dispatched a cargo of humanitarian assistance to the war-stricken Yemen, as the Arabian Peninsula country is under a siege imposed by the Saudi-led coalition. The Executive Director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) Ertharin Cousin had already said the UN agency is ready to forward the food and medical relief consignments of Iran for the war-hit people of Yemen. Also commenting on Iran's humanitarian aid for Yemen, head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) Amir Mohsen Ziya’ee said no one has the right to inspect the Iranian ship carrying humanitarian aid for the people of war-stricken Arab country. “Based on international regulations, no one can inspect a vessel that is moving in international waters carrying the flag of a country,” he said. The Nejat (Rescue) cargo ship, containing 2,500 tons of much-needed aid, including food, medical supplies and tents, left the southern Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas for Yemen on Monday. The aid consignment was donated by the IRCS and would reach Yemen’s port of al-Hodeidah in the Red Sea within the next 10 to 12 days. A Press TV correspondent on board the vessel said a group of doctors are also on board the ship with a mission to help the poor people of Yemen, who have been seriously affected by Saudi military strikes over the past 50 days.