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The Federal Foreign Office on the situation in Yemen 

18.01.2018 - Press release

A Federal Foreign Office Spokesperson issued the following statement today (18 January) on the humanitarian situation in Yemen, and on reports that Yemeni Houthi rebels on 16 January launched another missile at Saudi Arabia:

We welcome that the World Food Programme (WFP) was able to install four mobile cranes at Hodeidah Port at the beginning of this week. This is a positive step. It speeds up the process of getting vital supplies to the people of Yemen, who are experiencing acute hardship.


Further steps must follow, because the humanitarian situation in Yemen remains critical. We therefore call on all concerned to permanently guarantee unhindered and safe access for humanitarian and commercial supplies via all ports and airports in Yemen.


At the same time, the German Government condemns the renewed missile attack that was launched from Yemen and that targeted south-western Saudi Arabia, for which the Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility. This incident clearly demonstrates that a political solution is urgently needed for the conflict in Yemen, which cannot be resolved through military action.

Background information:

Last Monday (15 January), a ship of the World Food Programme carrying four mobile cranes arrived in Hodeidah Port, which is controlled by Yemeni Houthi rebels. The Saudi Arabian-led military coalition had previously agreed to installation of these cranes. Hodeidah is the most important port for getting supplies to the people of Yemen.

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