Yemen Red Sea port capacity down sharply after hostilities, UN says

22/1/2025 7:22

Operations at a Red Sea port in Yemen used for aid imports have fallen to about a quarter of its capacity, a UN official said on Tuesday, adding it was not

certain that a Gaza ceasefire would end attacks between the Iran-backed Houthis and Israel.



Houthis have launched attacks on international shipping near Yemen since November 2023 in solidarity with Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. This has prompted Israel to strike port and energy facilities, including the Red Sea port of Hodeidah.



"(The) impact of airstrikes on Hodeidah Harbour, particularly in the last weeks, is very important," Julien Harneis, U.N. resident and humanitarian coordinator in Yemen told a U.N. meeting in Geneva on Tuesday via videolink.



Four of the port's five tugboats needed to escort the large ships bringing imports had sunk, while the fifth was damaged, he said, without attributing blame.