U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley heralded the Monday arrival of mobile cranes to a Yemeni port, a step forward in efforts to help alleviate the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis.
The State Department successfully delivered the cranes to Hudaydah, Yemen, to offload aid supplies shipped there, the Washington Examiner reports. The Saudi-led coalition had blockaded the city as part of its fight against rebels who overthrew the previous government in Yemen, and the resulting economic disaster has drawn world attention.
"No one should ever have to live the way the people of Yemen are living," Haley said Monday. "We thank our partners who helped us make this delivery possible so that we can help the tens of millions of innocent people who wake up each day facing hunger and disease."
The Houthi rebels, who now control a substantial portion of Northern Yemen, overcame the central government of the country in 2015 and have since enjoyed the support of Iran. The Saudis and Houthis have now fought for over two years in a war that has killed at least 10,000 people. The Saudis’ aggressive bombing campaigns have killed civilians in Yemen while the Houthis have launched missiles, obtained from Iran, at the Saudi capital of Riyadh.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has charged Iran with violating U.N. resolutions by providing missiles that the Houthis used to attack Saudi Arabia directly.
"The Iranians are not supposed to be exporting any missiles or any related material," Haley said. "And they are allowing missiles like this to be fired over [at] innocent civilians, and that is what has to stop."
Haley also called for access into Yemen so that aid and commercial supplies can be delivered.
"We call on all sides of the conflict to allow full access for humanitarian and commercial supplies, including fuel, by keeping the country’s ports open and allowing humanitarian agencies to deliver aid without interference," Haley said.
Trump has questioned the nuclear agreement with Iran that strengthened the country’s economic hand even as it has ramped up involvement in regional conflict zones such as Yemen and Syria. Trump has recertified the deal since becoming president, but on Friday said he would withdraw if its "terrible flaws" are not fixed.