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Arabia
Yemen, Saudi bureaucrats foil refugee aid shipment
2009-10-11
ALB, Saudi Arabia - Yemen and Saudi officials stopped a UN aid shipment destined for refugees from fighting between Yemen troops and Shiite rebels on Saturday, unable to agree on border procedures. Three trucks laden with tents, mattresses, soap and other necessities were halted by a dispute over how to transfer the goods from Saudi trucks to Yemeni trucks at the border.
"Haw! Yer widows don't need no more ammo!"
This delayed for at least another day the delivery of much-needed humanitarian supplies for 3,000 hard-struck Yemenis sandwiched between the Saudi border and the centre of fighting further in to Saada province. The aborted delivery, witnessed by journalists traveling with the convoy, underscored how local distrust and bureaucratic inertia can prolong the suffering of people who have lost homes and face food shortages in war-torn northwest Yemen.

Overall an estimated 55,000 or more Yemenis have been displaced since the fighting erupted on August 11 between the Shiite Muslim Zaidis, also known as the Huthis, and the government of the Sunni-dominated state.

Zaidi leader Malek al-Huthi, said on Saturday he is ready to work with government opposition leaders to halt the fighting, which has left an unknown number of people dead on both sides. "We are ready for dialogue, to respond positively to all national initiatives and to stand alongside all honourable people wanting to save the country from corruption and injustice," Huthi said in a statement.

But an official of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees spent 12 hours at Alb's border outpost negotiating in vain with officials on both sides to get the goods into the hands of a Yemeni NGOs which would distribute them.

"I am still hopeful we can deliver these goods today," UNHCR protection officer Sultan Khilji said hours into the ordeal Saturday.
Posted by:Steve White

#1  "UN aid shipment"

Was this the standard Muddled East UN aid shipment of guns, ammo, and bombs with a couple of candy bars added so they can say it's food aid?
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut   2009-10-11 00:43  

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