A convoy of vehicles transport UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths during a visit to the port of Hodeidah. Reuters
A convoy of vehicles transport UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths during a visit to the port of Hodeidah. Reuters

UN says ships increasingly reluctant to dock in Hodeidah



The delivery of food and goods to war-torn Yemen's main port of Hodeidah has worsened significantly in the past fortnight, the UN said on Tuesday, with many shipping companies reluctant to dock there.

Since Houthi rebels took over the capital Sanaa more than three years ago, Yemen’s government has operated from the second city of Aden, though in practice most senior officials live in Riyadh or Cairo, with just the prime minister living permanently in the temporary capital.

Fighting between the rebels and pro-government forces, backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition, has recently escalated. The UN is leading international efforts for peace talks.

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Read more:

UN envoy to Yemen in Riyadh to discuss framework for peace talks

Martin Griffiths leaves Yemen after calling for UN control of Hodeidah

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Political instability – the beleagured government of president Abdrabu Mansur Hadi announced another cabinet shake-up on Monday – is adding to dire food shortages affecting eight million Yemeni civilians.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the supply situation in Hodeidah was getting worse.

“They see the insecurity in the port,” he said of shipping operators' response to recent fighting.

“It doesn't lend itself to increased activity. Over the last two weeks the activity has been cut by half. If this continues it will have a drastic and immediate impact not only the World Food Programme's ability to distribute food but also on prices in local markets.

“The economic slice of this is the shooting up of prices and the lack of cash available in the economy. This, as if we needed another reminder, is why we need a halt in the fighting.”

The UN's envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, on Monday visited Riyadh for talks, after last week being in the rebel-held city of Sanaa, where he discussed how the UN could oversee Hodeidah's port and help reduce instability.

A UN-brokered attempt at peace talks in September collapsed after the rebels refused to travel to Geneva, the agreed host city.

“We need parties to rally around Mr Griffiths and his efforts,” Mr Dujarric said, adding that no date was yet set for a proposed new round of peace talks in Sweden next month.

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In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe

Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010

Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille

Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm

Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year

Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”

Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners

TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013 

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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

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