Inside the museum in Taez, a city ringed by mountains, ancient cooking utensils and priceless manuscripts lie exposed on wooden tables draped with old cloth.

War has massively affected archaeological sites in Yemen

An abandoned oil tanker lying off Yemen's coast with 1.1 million barrels of crude on board is deteriorating badly and could rupture at any time, with disastrous results for Red Sea marine life, UN and other experts warn.

The 45-year-old FSO Safer is anchored off the port of Hodeida under the control of the Iran-backed Huthi rebels, who have blocked United Nations efforts to send a team of experts to assess its condition.

Effectively a floating storage platform, it has had virtually no maintenance for five years since war broke out in the country where the Huthis have seized much of the north from the internationally recognised government.

The UN Security Council will hold a special meeting on July 15 to discuss the crisis, after water entered the vessel's engine room "which could have led to disaster", UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Friday.

He said prospects for a mission to the site have been revived, and that if an inspection team is allowed on board it will conduct light repairs and determine the next steps.

"We hope logistical arrangements will be quickly completed so this work can begin," he said.

The Yemen government, which appealed for the UN to take up the issue, has warned the Safer could explode and cause "the largest environmental disaster regionally and globally."

Top Huthi leader Mohamed Ali al-Huthi said on Twitter last month that the rebels want guarantees the vessel will be repaired and that the value of the oil on board is used to pay salaries of their employees.

The market value of the oil is now estimated at $40 million, half what it was before crude prices crashed, although experts say poor quality could push it even lower.

Like other economic and aid issues in Yemen, the plight of the tanker has become a bargaining chip, with the Huthis accused of using the threat of disaster to secure control of the value of the cargo.

Yemeni Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed on Thursday called on the international community to punish the Huthis for preventing a UN inspection, and said the value of the oil should be spent on health and humanitarian projects.

TICKING TIME BOMB

Apart from corrosion to the ageing vessel, essential work on reducing explosive gases in the storage tanks has been neglected for years. Experts said the latest problem emerged in May with a leak in a cooling pipe.

"The pipe burst, sending water into the engine room and creating a really dangerous situation," said Ian Ralby, CEO of IR Consilium, a global maritime consultancy which follows the vessel closely.

A team from Yemen's Safer Exploration and Production Operations, a public oil company partly controlled by the Huthis, sent divers in to fix the leak, narrowly avoiding the ship sinking, Ralby said.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned last week that if the tanker ruptures "it will devastate the Red Sea ecosystem" and disrupt key shipping lanes.

"The Huthis must grant access before this ticking time bomb explodes," he said.

Hodeida port is a lifeline for northern Yemen with 90 percent of all supplies coming through it. Any disruption would inflict further hardship on a country which is again on the brink of famine after long years of conflict.

If the vessel ruptures "you're going to have two catastrophes", said Lise Grande, the UN's humanitarian coordinator for Yemen.

"There's going to be an environmental catastrophe that's bigger than almost any other similar kind... and it's going to be a humanitarian catastrophe because that oil will make the port of Hodeida unusable," she told AFP.

Independent Yemen-based environmental group Holm Akhdar -- Arabic for "Green Dream" -- warned an oil spill could stretch out from the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and into the Arabian Sea.

The region's ecology would need over 30 years to recover from an oil spillage of that size, it said in a recent report, adding that about 115 of Yemen's Red Sea islands would lose their biodiversity and natural habitats.

In a country where the majority of people already relied on aid to survive, an estimated 126,000 fishermen, including 68,000 in Hodeida, would lose their only source of income.

IR Consilium said any salvage operation after an oil spill would be greatly hampered by the coronavirus crisis.

"In the midst of a global pandemic and on the edge of a conflict zone, the chances of an early and adequate response are vanishingly small," it said in a report.

Doug Weir, research and policy director at the UK-based Conflict and Environment Observatory, said that without an independent assessment "it is impossible to determine when an incident might occur, or its form and severity".

"However the risks are clear, and the longer the dispute continues the greater they become, and the more complex and expensive any salvage operation will be."

An abandoned oil tanker lying off Yemen's coast with 1.1 million barrels of crude on board is deteriorating badly and could rupture at any time, with disastrous results for Red Sea marine life, UN and other experts warn.

An abandoned oil tanker lying off Yemen's coast with 1.1 million barrels of crude on board is deteriorating badly and could rupture at any time, with disastrous results for Red Sea marine life, UN and other experts warn. The 45-year-old FSO Safer is anchored off the port of Hodeida under the control of the Iran-backed Huthi rebels, who have blocked United Nations efforts to send a team of experts to assess its condition. Effectively a floating storage platform, it has had virtually no maintenance for five years since war broke out in the country where the Huthis have seized much of the north from the internationally recognised government. The UN Security Council will hold a special meeting on July 15 to discuss the crisis, after water entered the vessel's engine room "which could have led to disaster", UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Friday. He said prospects for a mission to the site have been revived, and that if an inspection team is allowed on board it will conduct light repairs and determine the next steps. "We hope logistical arrangements will be quickly completed so this work can begin," he said. The Yemen government, which appealed for the UN to take up the issue, has warned the Safer could explode and cause "the largest environmental disaster regionally and globally." Top Huthi leader Mohamed Ali al-Huthi said on Twitter last month that the rebels want guarantees the vessel will be repaired and that the value of the oil on board is used to pay salaries of their employees. The market value of the oil is now estimated at $40 million, half what it was before crude prices crashed, although experts say poor quality could push it even lower. Like other economic and aid issues in Yemen, the plight of the tanker has become a bargaining chip, with the Huthis accused of using the threat of disaster to secure control of the value of the cargo. Yemeni Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed on Thursday called on the international community to punish the Huthis for preventing a UN inspection, and said the value of the oil should be spent on health and humanitarian projects. TICKING TIME BOMB Apart from corrosion to the ageing vessel, essential work on reducing explosive gases in the storage tanks has been neglected for years. Experts said the latest problem emerged in May with a leak in a cooling pipe. "The pipe burst, sending water into the engine room and creating a really dangerous situation," said Ian Ralby, CEO of IR Consilium, a global maritime consultancy which follows the vessel closely. A team from Yemen's Safer Exploration and Production Operations, a public oil company partly controlled by the Huthis, sent divers in to fix the leak, narrowly avoiding the ship sinking, Ralby said. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned last week that if the tanker ruptures "it will devastate the Red Sea ecosystem" and disrupt key shipping lanes. "The Huthis must grant access before this ticking time bomb explodes," he said. Hodeida port is a lifeline for northern Yemen with 90 percent of all supplies coming through it. Any disruption would inflict further hardship on a country which is again on the brink of famine after long years of conflict. If the vessel ruptures "you're going to have two catastrophes", said Lise Grande, the UN's humanitarian coordinator for Yemen. "There's going to be an environmental catastrophe that's bigger than almost any other similar kind... and it's going to be a humanitarian catastrophe because that oil will make the port of Hodeida unusable," she told AFP. Independent Yemen-based environmental group Holm Akhdar -- Arabic for "Green Dream" -- warned an oil spill could stretch out from the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and into the Arabian Sea. The region's ecology would need over 30 years to recover from an oil spillage of that size, it said in a recent report, adding that about 115 of Yemen's Red Sea islands would lose their biodiversity and natural habitats. In a country where the majority of people already relied on aid to survive, an estimated 126,000 fishermen, including 68,000 in Hodeida, would lose their only source of income. IR Consilium said any salvage operation after an oil spill would be greatly hampered by the coronavirus crisis. "In the midst of a global pandemic and on the edge of a conflict zone, the chances of an early and adequate response are vanishingly small," it said in a report. Doug Weir, research and policy director at the UK-based Conflict and Environment Observatory, said that without an independent assessment "it is impossible to determine when an incident might occur, or its form and severity". "However the risks are clear, and the longer the dispute continues the greater they become, and the more complex and expensive any salvage operation will be."

UN to hold crisis talks as decaying Yemen tanker risks disaster

The Houthi controlled part of Yemen is facing its worst fuel crisis of the decade. Hundreds of Yemenis are queuing up outside the petrol pumps waiting for their turn to fill their tanks. Watch report.

Yemen's worst fuel crisis | 4 km-long queues amid worst fuel crisis

The United Kingdom will resume arms sales to Saudi Arabia, despite fears that the weapons could be used against civilians in Yemen. This comes on the heels of London selectively slapping sanctions on individuals from Saudi Arabia. WION's Palki Sharma brings you a report.

Gravitas: United Kingdom's sanction hypocrisy

The COVID-19 death rate in Yemen is five times the global average. One out of five infected persons in the country is dying. WION's Palki Sharma tells you more about one of the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Gravitas: Yemen collapses under pandemic strain

War, hunger and pandemic --&nbsp;Yemen is facing the world's worst humanitarian crisis. It is the most needy place on earth right now. Yemen is&nbsp;completely devasted by conflict.

Millions have no access to food, healthcare, clean water or sanitation. It's a festering pool of coronavirus infections.

In a country ravaged by war, the true scale of the pandemic is beyond comprehension. The United Nations (UN) says the death toll could surpass 100,000. That is more than the combined death toll of war, disease, and hunger in Yemen over the last five years.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/millions-of-yemeni-children-face-threat-of-starvation-309148">Also watch:&nbsp;Millions of Yemeni children face threat of starvation</a>

The COVID-19 mortality rate is five times the global average.&nbsp;One out of five people infected by the virus is dying. Five years of war has decimated the healthcare system. Nearly half of Yemen's 3,500 medical facilities have been damaged or destroyed in air strikes. Clinics are overcrowded without basic medicines and equipment.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/gravitas-yemen-collapses-under-pandemic-strain-310589/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

In a country of 27.5 million people, only 500 ventilators and 700 intensive care units are available. Even before the pandemic, Yemen faced a health crisis with mounting cases of dengue, malaria and cholera. Now, it has become worse.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/saudi-led-coalition-starts-military-operation-against-yemens-houthis-310372">Also watch:&nbsp;Saudi-led coalition starts military operation against Yemen's Houthis</a>

The UN is not able to do much due to lack of funds. It has warned that most of its relief programs will be suspended in the coming weeks.

"More than 30 of the 41 UN-supported programmes in Yemen will close in the coming weeks if additional funds are not secured. Now, more than ever, the country needs the outside world's help, and it's not really getting it."

In early June,&nbsp;the UN raised the alarm and received 1.3 billion dollars in aid to help Yemen, which is just half of what it got last year.

For Yemen, which entirely depends on aid to survive, this is detrimental as 80 per cent of the population relies on handouts.

Over two million children suffer malnutrition and&nbsp;could be pushed to the brink of starvation.&nbsp;

The war has turned Yemen into middle-east's poorest nation. Northern Yemen is held by Saudi Arabia-backed government and southern Yemen is ruled by the Houthi militants with the help of Iran.

The civil war has left millions unemployed. Now, 80 per cent of the country is in need of humanitarian assistance but the two warring sides are blocking vital food and medical aid.

Yemen is a failed state without a central government in charge.

War, hunger and pandemic -- Yemen is facing the world's worst humanitarian crisis. It is the most needy place on earth right now. Yemen is completely devasted by conflict.

War, hunger and pandemic -- Yemen is facing the world's worst humanitarian crisis. It is the most needy place on earth right now. Yemen is completely devasted by conflict. Millions have no access to food, healthcare, clean water or sanitation. It's a festering pool of coronavirus infections. In a country ravaged by war, the true scale of the pandemic is beyond comprehension. The United Nations (UN) says the death toll could surpass 100,000. That is more than the combined death toll of war, disease, and hunger in Yemen over the last five years. Also watch: Millions of Yemeni children face threat of starvation The COVID-19 mortality rate is five times the global average. One out of five people infected by the virus is dying. Five years of war has decimated the healthcare system. Nearly half of Yemen's 3,500 medical facilities have been damaged or destroyed in air strikes. Clinics are overcrowded without basic medicines and equipment. In a country of 27.5 million people, only 500 ventilators and 700 intensive care units are available. Even before the pandemic, Yemen faced a health crisis with mounting cases of dengue, malaria and cholera. Now, it has become worse. Also watch: Saudi-led coalition starts military operation against Yemen's Houthis The UN is not able to do much due to lack of funds. It has warned that most of its relief programs will be suspended in the coming weeks. "More than 30 of the 41 UN-supported programmes in Yemen will close in the coming weeks if additional funds are not secured. Now, more than ever, the country needs the outside world's help, and it's not really getting it." In early June, the UN raised the alarm and received 1.3 billion dollars in aid to help Yemen, which is just half of what it got last year. For Yemen, which entirely depends on aid to survive, this is detrimental as 80 per cent of the population relies on handouts. Over two million children suffer malnutrition and could be pushed to the brink of starvation. The war has turned Yemen into middle-east's poorest nation. Northern Yemen is held by Saudi Arabia-backed government and southern Yemen is ruled by the Houthi militants with the help of Iran. The civil war has left millions unemployed. Now, 80 per cent of the country is in need of humanitarian assistance but the two warring sides are blocking vital food and medical aid. Yemen is a failed state without a central government in charge.

Yemen's humanitarian crisis becomes worse; death toll may cross 100,000

A Saudi-led coalition has started a military operation against Yemen's Houthi movement after it stepped up cross-border missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia, Saudi state television reported on Wednesday (July 1).

Saudi-led coalition starts military operation against Yemen's Houthis

Millions of children could be pushed to the brink of starvation as the coronavirus pandemic sweeps across war-torn Yemen

Millions of Yemeni children face threat of starvation

The number of malnourished children in Yemen could rise to 2.4 million by the end of the year due to a big shortfall in humanitarian funding, the United Nations children`s agency UNICEF said on Friday.

A UNICEF report warned of a rise of 20 per cent in the number of malnourished children under the age of five - almost half of all of that age in the country.

"If we do not receive urgent funding, children will be pushed to the brink of starvation and many will die," said UNICEF Yemen representative Sara Beysolow Nyanti. "We cannot overstate the scale of this emergency."

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/a-half-year-into-coronavirus-pandemic-and-these-migrants-have-not-heard-about-covid-19-308551">Also read:&nbsp;A half-year into coronavirus pandemic, and these migrants have not heard about COVID-19</a>

Yemen has been wracked for more than five years by a war pitting the Iran-aligned Houthi movement which controls much of the country and a Saudi-led coalition which supports the internationally-recognised government based in the south.

Tens of thousands of people have died, many of them civilians, and the ensuing humanitarian crisis has been called the worst in the world.

The United Nations has said it does not have enough funding to maintain the aid response, the world`s largest. A pledging event this month raised half of what was needed and aid programmes impacting millions are set to close in coming weeks.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/theres-a-country-where-thousands-havent-even-heard-of-coronavirus-308208">Also read: There's a country where thousands haven't even heard of coronavirus!</a>

UNICEF is appealing for $461 million for its humanitarian response, which is currently only 39% funded, and $53 million for its COVID-19 response which is only 10% funded.

Sanitation, immunisation and malnutrition programmes risk reduction and closure.

Yemen`s health system is already on the brink of collapse, kept going through aid. Cholera, malaria and dengue were rife amid a malnourished population even before the coronavirus outbreak.

About 7.8 million children are now out of school, putting them at risk of child labour, recruitment into armed groups and child marriage, UNICEF said.

"UNICEF has previously said, and again repeats, that Yemen is the worst place in the world to be a child and it is not getting any better," Nyanti said.

Cases of coronavirus infection reported by Yemeni authorities surpassed 1,000 on Wednesday, but the United Nations says the virus is spreading unmitigated in a country with shattered health systems and infections are likely much higher.

The number of malnourished children in Yemen could rise to 2.4 million by the end of the year due to a big shortfall in humanitarian funding, the United Nations children`s agency UNICEF said on Friday.

The number of malnourished children in Yemen could rise to 2.4 million by the end of the year due to a big shortfall in humanitarian funding, the United Nations children`s agency UNICEF said on Friday. A UNICEF report warned of a rise of 20 per cent in the number of malnourished children under the age of five - almost half of all of that age in the country. "If we do not receive urgent funding, children will be pushed to the brink of starvation and many will die," said UNICEF Yemen representative Sara Beysolow Nyanti. "We cannot overstate the scale of this emergency." Also read: A half-year into coronavirus pandemic, and these migrants have not heard about COVID-19 Yemen has been wracked for more than five years by a war pitting the Iran-aligned Houthi movement which controls much of the country and a Saudi-led coalition which supports the internationally-recognised government based in the south. Tens of thousands of people have died, many of them civilians, and the ensuing humanitarian crisis has been called the worst in the world. The United Nations has said it does not have enough funding to maintain the aid response, the world`s largest. A pledging event this month raised half of what was needed and aid programmes impacting millions are set to close in coming weeks. Also read: There's a country where thousands haven't even heard of coronavirus! UNICEF is appealing for $461 million for its humanitarian response, which is currently only 39% funded, and $53 million for its COVID-19 response which is only 10% funded. Sanitation, immunisation and malnutrition programmes risk reduction and closure. Yemen`s health system is already on the brink of collapse, kept going through aid. Cholera, malaria and dengue were rife amid a malnourished population even before the coronavirus outbreak. About 7.8 million children are now out of school, putting them at risk of child labour, recruitment into armed groups and child marriage, UNICEF said. "UNICEF has previously said, and again repeats, that Yemen is the worst place in the world to be a child and it is not getting any better," Nyanti said. Cases of coronavirus infection reported by Yemeni authorities surpassed 1,000 on Wednesday, but the United Nations says the virus is spreading unmitigated in a country with shattered health systems and infections are likely much higher.

More Yemeni children face malnourishment amid aid shortage, coronavirus - UNICEF

Russia unveiled a $72 billion recovery plan for its economy badly hammered by the coronavirus pandemic, vowing to boost employment and incomes in the country where cases continue to mount.&nbsp; 
 
The economy is set for a sharp contraction this year, and President Vladimir Putin is eager to get growth back on track in a bid to boost approval ratings.&nbsp; 
 
Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin unveiled a raft of measures Tuesday worth $72 billion aimed at reviving the sputtering economy after weeks of lockdowns that have kept much of the population home from work and shut key industries.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/world/blood-sucking-mutant-ticks-storm-russia-hospitals-already-overburdened-by-coronavirus-feel-the-sting-302682" hreflang="en">'Blood-sucking' mutant ticks storm Russia: Hospitals already overburdened by coronavirus feel the sting</a> 
 
Aimed at boosting employment, incomes and economic growth, the programme "contains over 500 measures, its cost over two years will be about five trillion rubles," Mishustin told Putin in a televised meeting. 
 
Putin described the plan as a "foundation" for repairing the economy and implementing "long-term structural change". 
 
"It is a matter of crucial importance for us to solve today's acute problems, as well as ensure confident movement forward in the long-term," he said. 
 
Putin said the epidemic had "seriously impacted all spheres of life" and added that he expected to launch the recovery plan next month. 
 
The prime minister said the plan would be rolled out over three separate stages. 
 
Stage one would stabilise the economy and will be delivered in the current quarter. The next steps aimed to rebuild the economy and put it on a "trajectory for stable economic growth," the prime minister added.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="wionews.com/world/covid-19-russia-death-toll-crosses-5000-as-lockdown-eases-302617" hreflang="en">COVID-19: Russia death toll crosses 5,000 as lockdown eases</a> 
 
Russia has introduced targeted tax cuts and provided some emergency aid for families and people newly unemployed since introducing the lockdown at the end of March. 
 
Yet observers have said that Russia's rescue package falls short of aid provided to populations by other countries with similar economies.

Companies like 'wildflowers' 
Russia has the third highest number of coronavirus cases globally, with more than 423,000 infections, and its death toll topped 5,000 on Tuesday.&nbsp; 
 
Under strict lockdown measures imposed in March, large swathes of the economy were inactive for weeks, with some regions only recently beginning to ease anti-virus measures. 
 
Industries were delivered a double blow as Putin ordered companies to stop work activities but continue paying salaries. 
 
The lockdown compounded existing problems for the Russian economy, ranging from effects of sanctions following the 2014 Crimea annexation, to the oil price crash this year. 
 
The government's forecast is that the economy will shrink by 9.5 percent in the second quarter and up to six percent for the current year. 
 
Some said the newly unveiled plan would not be enough to aid struggling businesses.&nbsp; 
 
It would only offer "quite modest" support and looks like a symbolic project introduced while the government waits for second quarter data, said Sergei Khestanov, an economist at the Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. 
 
The government is unlikely to blanket aid across the sectors, and instead only help select companies deemed to be crucial, he added. 
 
The remaining companies will be treated like "wildflowers" he told AFP, explaining that "if they are there, that's nice, but if they die, it's okay, since new ones will grow". 
 
A draft of the plan cited by TASS news agency included measures ranging from creating a national reserve of medication to developing domestic tourism and spending one trillion rubles on infrastructural projects. 
 
Labour Minister Anton Kotyakov said this week that over two million people in the country were registered as unemployed. 
 
Analysts at the Boston Consulting Group last week predicted unemployment could triple from the pre-crisis figure of 4.6 percent, based on its projections for the worst-case scenario.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Russia unveiled a $72 billion recovery plan for its economy badly hammered by the coronavirus pandemic, vowing to boost employment and incomes in the country where cases continue to mount.

Russia unveiled a $72 billion recovery plan for its economy badly hammered by the coronavirus pandemic, vowing to boost employment and incomes in the country where cases continue to mount. The economy is set for a sharp contraction this year, and President Vladimir Putin is eager to get growth back on track in a bid to boost approval ratings. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin unveiled a raft of measures Tuesday worth $72 billion aimed at reviving the sputtering economy after weeks of lockdowns that have kept much of the population home from work and shut key industries. Also read: 'Blood-sucking' mutant ticks storm Russia: Hospitals already overburdened by coronavirus feel the sting Aimed at boosting employment, incomes and economic growth, the programme "contains over 500 measures, its cost over two years will be about five trillion rubles," Mishustin told Putin in a televised meeting. Putin described the plan as a "foundation" for repairing the economy and implementing "long-term structural change". "It is a matter of crucial importance for us to solve today's acute problems, as well as ensure confident movement forward in the long-term," he said. Putin said the epidemic had "seriously impacted all spheres of life" and added that he expected to launch the recovery plan next month. The prime minister said the plan would be rolled out over three separate stages. Stage one would stabilise the economy and will be delivered in the current quarter. The next steps aimed to rebuild the economy and put it on a "trajectory for stable economic growth," the prime minister added. Also read: COVID-19: Russia death toll crosses 5,000 as lockdown eases Russia has introduced targeted tax cuts and provided some emergency aid for families and people newly unemployed since introducing the lockdown at the end of March. Yet observers have said that Russia's rescue package falls short of aid provided to populations by other countries with similar economies. Companies like 'wildflowers' Russia has the third highest number of coronavirus cases globally, with more than 423,000 infections, and its death toll topped 5,000 on Tuesday. Under strict lockdown measures imposed in March, large swathes of the economy were inactive for weeks, with some regions only recently beginning to ease anti-virus measures. Industries were delivered a double blow as Putin ordered companies to stop work activities but continue paying salaries. The lockdown compounded existing problems for the Russian economy, ranging from effects of sanctions following the 2014 Crimea annexation, to the oil price crash this year. The government's forecast is that the economy will shrink by 9.5 percent in the second quarter and up to six percent for the current year. Some said the newly unveiled plan would not be enough to aid struggling businesses. It would only offer "quite modest" support and looks like a symbolic project introduced while the government waits for second quarter data, said Sergei Khestanov, an economist at the Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. The government is unlikely to blanket aid across the sectors, and instead only help select companies deemed to be crucial, he added. The remaining companies will be treated like "wildflowers" he told AFP, explaining that "if they are there, that's nice, but if they die, it's okay, since new ones will grow". A draft of the plan cited by TASS news agency included measures ranging from creating a national reserve of medication to developing domestic tourism and spending one trillion rubles on infrastructural projects. Labour Minister Anton Kotyakov said this week that over two million people in the country were registered as unemployed. Analysts at the Boston Consulting Group last week predicted unemployment could triple from the pre-crisis figure of 4.6 percent, based on its projections for the worst-case scenario.

Russia unveils $72-billion virus recovery plan 

United Nations’ programmes have been very helpful in providing assistance, especially in terms of health and food supplies in the war-torn Yemen. However, starting now, almost 75 per cent of UN services are ending or halting their operations in the country.

As part of this, Yemen will receive lesser food supplies from the body’s various programmes. Additionally, health services will be impact in 189 out of the 369 hospitals.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/covid-19-is-a-threat-to-warn-torn-yemen-un-refugee-agency-299595" hreflang="en">COVID-19 is a threat to warn-torn Yemen: UN Refugee Agency</a>

Yemen has been seen witnessing fund cuts due to the war-like conditions in the country.&nbsp; Currently, the capital of the country Sanna is under the control of Houthi rebels, who receive support from Iran as opposed to the Saudi-UAE coalition.

Earlier, the biggest donor to Yemen, United States cut its funding to the country, attributing it to the Houthis.

Yemen is the economically poorest Arab country and has been witnessing war since 2014 since Houthis gained control of the capital city and overthrew the president Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

<h6><img alt="j" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e06f256e-2e05-41a6-902c-f0dd70e3e2b0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design-2_10.jpg" /> 
Smoke billows amid clashes between fighters loyal to Yemen's separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Saudi-backed government forces for control of Zinjibar, the capital of the southern Abyan province, in the Sheikh Salim area on May 23, 2020 | AFP</h6>

&nbsp;

The war, with Iran and Saudi Arabia as the two major playing has killed over 100,000 people, triggering shortages of important food and medical supplies.

The United Nations has referred to the crisis as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="/world/who-suspends-staff-activity-in-yemens-houthi-held-areas-297843" hreflang="en">WHO suspends staff activity in Yemen's Houthi-held areas</a>

Last year, the UN received international donations worth $3.6 billion. However, it fell short of its $4.2 billion goal. In terms of its goals this year, the organisation has received only 15 per cent of the envisioned $3.5 billion.

The country is country dealing with the coronavirus crisis. Many reports have claim that the virus is spreading through the country, which could have grave consequences considering the socio-economic status of the country, alongside a very poor healthcare system. Coronavirus spreads quickly through contact with the infected, and has killed over 100,000 in the United States alone. In a war-torn situation, it could prove to be much fatal.

United Nations’ programmes have been very helpful in providing assistance, especially in terms of health and food supplies in the war-torn Yemen. However, starting now, almost 75 per cent of UN services are ending or halting their operations in the country.

United Nations’ programmes have been very helpful in providing assistance, especially in terms of health and food supplies in the war-torn Yemen. However, starting now, almost 75 per cent of UN services are ending or halting their operations in the country. As part of this, Yemen will receive lesser food supplies from the body’s various programmes. Additionally, health services will be impact in 189 out of the 369 hospitals. Also read: COVID-19 is a threat to warn-torn Yemen: UN Refugee Agency Yemen has been seen witnessing fund cuts due to the war-like conditions in the country. Currently, the capital of the country Sanna is under the control of Houthi rebels, who receive support from Iran as opposed to the Saudi-UAE coalition. Earlier, the biggest donor to Yemen, United States cut its funding to the country, attributing it to the Houthis. Yemen is the economically poorest Arab country and has been witnessing war since 2014 since Houthis gained control of the capital city and overthrew the president Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi. Smoke billows amid clashes between fighters loyal to Yemen's separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Saudi-backed government forces for control of Zinjibar, the capital of the southern Abyan province, in the Sheikh Salim area on May 23, 2020 | AFP The war, with Iran and Saudi Arabia as the two major playing has killed over 100,000 people, triggering shortages of important food and medical supplies. The United Nations has referred to the crisis as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Also read: WHO suspends staff activity in Yemen's Houthi-held areas Last year, the UN received international donations worth $3.6 billion. However, it fell short of its $4.2 billion goal. In terms of its goals this year, the organisation has received only 15 per cent of the envisioned $3.5 billion. The country is country dealing with the coronavirus crisis. Many reports have claim that the virus is spreading through the country, which could have grave consequences considering the socio-economic status of the country, alongside a very poor healthcare system. Coronavirus spreads quickly through contact with the infected, and has killed over 100,000 in the United States alone. In a war-torn situation, it could prove to be much fatal.

United Nations cuts assistance to Yemen, over 75% services affected

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has suspended staff activity at its hubs in Houthi-held areas of Yemen, a directive seen by Reuters showed, in a move sources said aimed to pressure the group to be more transparent about suspected coronavirus cases.

War-ravaged Yemen is divided between the internationally recognised government temporarily based in the south and the Houthi movement that ousted it from power in the capital, Sanaa, in the north in late 2014.

The Saudi-backed government has so far reported 34 cases of the novel coronavirus with seven deaths in the territory it controls, while the Houthis, who control most large urban centres, have recorded just two cases with one death.

The WHO directive issued late on Saturday notified staff in Sanaa, in the Red Sea port of Hodeidah, in the northern province of Saada and the central province of Ibb that "all movements, meetings or any other activity" for all staff in those areas were paused until further notice.

The WHO did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Three sources told Reuters that the WHO had taken the measure to press the Houthi authorities to report results of tests for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by coronavirus.

The Saudi-backed government has accused Houthi authorities of covering up an outbreak in Sanaa, a charge the group denies.

The WHO has said it fears COVID-19 could rip through Yemen as the population has some of the lowest levels of immunity to disease compared with other countries. Minimal testing capacity has added to concerns.

The five-year war between a Saudi-led coalition and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement has shattered Yemen`s health system and left its population weakened by widespread hunger and disease.

Around 80% of the population, or 24 million people, rely on humanitarian aid and 10 million are at risk of starvation.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has suspended staff activity at its hubs in Houthi-held areas of Yemen, a directive seen by Reuters showed, in a move sources said aimed to pressure the group to be more transparent about suspected coronavirus cases.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has suspended staff activity at its hubs in Houthi-held areas of Yemen, a directive seen by Reuters showed, in a move sources said aimed to pressure the group to be more transparent about suspected coronavirus cases. War-ravaged Yemen is divided between the internationally recognised government temporarily based in the south and the Houthi movement that ousted it from power in the capital, Sanaa, in the north in late 2014. The Saudi-backed government has so far reported 34 cases of the novel coronavirus with seven deaths in the territory it controls, while the Houthis, who control most large urban centres, have recorded just two cases with one death. The WHO directive issued late on Saturday notified staff in Sanaa, in the Red Sea port of Hodeidah, in the northern province of Saada and the central province of Ibb that "all movements, meetings or any other activity" for all staff in those areas were paused until further notice. The WHO did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Three sources told Reuters that the WHO had taken the measure to press the Houthi authorities to report results of tests for COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by coronavirus. The Saudi-backed government has accused Houthi authorities of covering up an outbreak in Sanaa, a charge the group denies. The WHO has said it fears COVID-19 could rip through Yemen as the population has some of the lowest levels of immunity to disease compared with other countries. Minimal testing capacity has added to concerns. The five-year war between a Saudi-led coalition and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement has shattered Yemen`s health system and left its population weakened by widespread hunger and disease. Around 80% of the population, or 24 million people, rely on humanitarian aid and 10 million are at risk of starvation.

WHO suspends staff activity in Yemen's Houthi-held areas

Yemen&nbsp;has recorded its first deaths from the coronavirus pandemic, after the war-torn country confirmed five new cases, stoking fears of a major outbreak.

The country's healthcare system has been blighted by years of war that have driven millions from their homes and plunged the country into what the United Nations describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

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It has been mired in war since the Houthi group ousted the internationally recognised government from power in the capital Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led alliance to intervene in March 2015.

According to its health minister&nbsp;Nasser&nbsp;Baoum,&nbsp;five COVID-19 cases with two deaths were reported in Aden and noted that the prevalence of other diseases with similar symptoms, such as dengue fever, made it difficult to detect coronavirus infections without testing.

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The deaths come after aid organisations warned any coronavirus outbreak could have dire consequences after six years of civil war.

The United Nations has said it fears the novel coronavirus could be spreading undetected in a country where millions face famine and lack medical care after Yemen reported its first case of COVID-19 in the southern province of Hadhramout on April 10.

Yemen has recorded its first deaths from the coronavirus pandemic, after the war-torn country confirmed five new cases, stoking fears of a major outbreak. The country's healthcare system has been blighted by years of war that have driven millions from their homes and plunged the country into what the United Nations describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Yemen has recorded its first deaths from the coronavirus pandemic, after the war-torn country confirmed five new cases, stoking fears of a major outbreak. The country's healthcare system has been blighted by years of war that have driven millions from their homes and plunged the country into what the United Nations describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Also read: Coronavirus: No significant clinical benefits of remdesivir, claims new study It has been mired in war since the Houthi group ousted the internationally recognised government from power in the capital Sanaa, prompting a Saudi-led alliance to intervene in March 2015. According to its health minister Nasser Baoum, five COVID-19 cases with two deaths were reported in Aden and noted that the prevalence of other diseases with similar symptoms, such as dengue fever, made it difficult to detect coronavirus infections without testing. Also read: US: Dogs are being trained to 'sniff out' COVID-19 cases The deaths come after aid organisations warned any coronavirus outbreak could have dire consequences after six years of civil war. The United Nations has said it fears the novel coronavirus could be spreading undetected in a country where millions face famine and lack medical care after Yemen reported its first case of COVID-19 in the southern province of Hadhramout on April 10.

War-torn Yemen reports its first two coronavirus deaths

Hand-washing to combat the spread of coronavirus is the order of the day, but it's an unaffordable luxury for millions in war-ravaged Yemen where clean water is dangerously scarce.

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Yemen's broken healthcare system has yet to register any cases of the disease, but if the pandemic does hit, the impact will be unimaginable in a country where the long conflict has created what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Five years after a Saudi-led military coalition intervened in Yemen to support the government against the Iran-backed Huthi rebels, some 80 percent of the population of 30 million is in need of aid.&nbsp;

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Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said it was concerned many Yemenis have no access even to clean water or soap.

"We are extremely worried," Caroline Seguin, MSF's head of programmes in Yemen, Iraq and Jordan, told AFP.&nbsp;"We can recommend they wash their hands, but what if they don't have anything to wash with?"

Nearly 18 million people, including 9.2 million children, do not have regular access to safe water, according to UNICEF, and only a third of the population has access to piped supplies.

Yemen suffered one of its worst ever outbreaks of cholera in 2017 and Oxfam said Tuesday that the forthcoming rainy season could see another deadly episode that would be compounded by the new virus threat.

Hand-washing to combat the spread of coronavirus is the order of the day, but it's an unaffordable luxury for millions in war-ravaged Yemen where clean water is dangerously scarce.

Hand-washing to combat the spread of coronavirus is the order of the day, but it's an unaffordable luxury for millions in war-ravaged Yemen where clean water is dangerously scarce. Also read: COVID-19: Panic breaks out as American lead virus expert missing from White House briefing Yemen's broken healthcare system has yet to register any cases of the disease, but if the pandemic does hit, the impact will be unimaginable in a country where the long conflict has created what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Five years after a Saudi-led military coalition intervened in Yemen to support the government against the Iran-backed Huthi rebels, some 80 percent of the population of 30 million is in need of aid. Also read: Amid coronavirus pandemic, Yale university offering free 'happiness course' online Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said it was concerned many Yemenis have no access even to clean water or soap. "We are extremely worried," Caroline Seguin, MSF's head of programmes in Yemen, Iraq and Jordan, told AFP. "We can recommend they wash their hands, but what if they don't have anything to wash with?" Nearly 18 million people, including 9.2 million children, do not have regular access to safe water, according to UNICEF, and only a third of the population has access to piped supplies. Yemen suffered one of its worst ever outbreaks of cholera in 2017 and Oxfam said Tuesday that the forthcoming rainy season could see another deadly episode that would be compounded by the new virus threat.

Hand-washing: a luxury millions of Yemenis can't afford

Naval forces from the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen on Sunday foiled an "imminent terrorist" attack by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in the southern Red Sea, a major commercial shipping channel, the coalition said.

The forces destroyed an unmanned boat laden with explosives that was launched from Hodeidah province in western Yemen, coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki said in a statement on Saudi state news agency SPA, without identifying the targets.

There was no immediate confirmation from the Houthi movement, which has been battling the Sunni Muslim military coalition since 2015 in a conflict that is largely seen in the region as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and arch-foe Shi'ite Iran.

Yemen lies along the Bab al-Mandeb strait at the southern mouth of the Red Sea, one of the most important trade routes for oil tankers heading from the Middle East to Europe.

Malki said the planned attack posed a threat to regional and international security and maritime trade. He said the use of Hodeidah for operations was a "glaring violation" of a UN-led peace deal in the disputed port city that was agreed between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and the Houthis in December 2018.

Violence rose in January, ending more than three months of unprecedented calm in the five-year-old conflict following informal ceasefire talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.

Coalition warplanes carried out several airstrikes on the Houthi-held capital Sanaa on Sunday, hitting the presidential palace and other military sites, residents told Reuters.

The strikes were the first to hit the capital for several months, they said, and followed ballistic missile attacks by Houthi forces on Saudi cities on Friday, as the kingdom prepared for a gathering of finance ministers from the Group of 20 major economies in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia paused oil shipments through Bab al-Mandeb for more than a week in 2018 after the Houthis attacked two ships in the waterway.

The Western-backed coalition intervened in Yemen to try to restore the internationally recognised government that was ousted from power in the capital Sanaa in late 2014 by the Houthis, who now control most major urban centres.

Naval forces from the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen on Sunday foiled an "imminent terrorist" attack by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in the southern Red Sea, a major commercial shipping channel, the coalition said.

Naval forces from the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen on Sunday foiled an "imminent terrorist" attack by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in the southern Red Sea, a major commercial shipping channel, the coalition said. The forces destroyed an unmanned boat laden with explosives that was launched from Hodeidah province in western Yemen, coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki said in a statement on Saudi state news agency SPA, without identifying the targets. There was no immediate confirmation from the Houthi movement, which has been battling the Sunni Muslim military coalition since 2015 in a conflict that is largely seen in the region as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and arch-foe Shi'ite Iran. Yemen lies along the Bab al-Mandeb strait at the southern mouth of the Red Sea, one of the most important trade routes for oil tankers heading from the Middle East to Europe. Malki said the planned attack posed a threat to regional and international security and maritime trade. He said the use of Hodeidah for operations was a "glaring violation" of a UN-led peace deal in the disputed port city that was agreed between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and the Houthis in December 2018. Violence rose in January, ending more than three months of unprecedented calm in the five-year-old conflict following informal ceasefire talks between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis. Coalition warplanes carried out several airstrikes on the Houthi-held capital Sanaa on Sunday, hitting the presidential palace and other military sites, residents told Reuters. The strikes were the first to hit the capital for several months, they said, and followed ballistic missile attacks by Houthi forces on Saudi cities on Friday, as the kingdom prepared for a gathering of finance ministers from the Group of 20 major economies in Riyadh. Saudi Arabia paused oil shipments through Bab al-Mandeb for more than a week in 2018 after the Houthis attacked two ships in the waterway. The Western-backed coalition intervened in Yemen to try to restore the internationally recognised government that was ousted from power in the capital Sanaa in late 2014 by the Houthis, who now control most major urban centres.

Saudi-led coalition says it foiled Red Sea attack by Yemen's Houthis

Eight of the Yemeni defence minister's bodyguards were killed Wednesday when their vehicle hit a landmine east of the capital Sanaa, but the official was unhurt, a ministry source said.

The Yemen government -- backed by a Saudi-led military coalition -- has been battling Iran-bached Huthi rebels since 2014, when the insurgents seized control of Sanaa.

Defence Minister General Mohammed Ali al-Maqdishi was in Marib province on Wednesday visiting one of the main frontlines.

"A vehicle accompanying that of the defence minister was struck by an explosion," a defence ministry source told AFP.&nbsp;

He said that eight of the guards were killed, raising an earlier toll of six dead.

"Nothing happened to the minister," the source said.&nbsp;

Loyalist military officials said in late January that the Huthis had made gains against government troops north and east of the capital, seizing a strategic road.

The road connects Sanaa to the provinces of Marib, to the east, and Jawf in the north.

Before the latest upsurge in fighting, Jawf province had been mostly controlled by the Huthis, with its capital still in the hands of the government.

Marib province, including its capital, is under government control.

The renewed fighting, which erupted several weeks ago, included a January 18 missile strike on a loyalist military camp that killed 116 people.

Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed and millions been displaced in a war that the United Nations has termed the world's worst humanitarian crisis.&nbsp;

Eight of the Yemeni defence minister's bodyguards were killed Wednesday when their vehicle hit a landmine east of the capital Sanaa, but the official was unhurt, a ministry source said.

Eight of the Yemeni defence minister's bodyguards were killed Wednesday when their vehicle hit a landmine east of the capital Sanaa, but the official was unhurt, a ministry source said. The Yemen government -- backed by a Saudi-led military coalition -- has been battling Iran-bached Huthi rebels since 2014, when the insurgents seized control of Sanaa. Defence Minister General Mohammed Ali al-Maqdishi was in Marib province on Wednesday visiting one of the main frontlines. "A vehicle accompanying that of the defence minister was struck by an explosion," a defence ministry source told AFP. He said that eight of the guards were killed, raising an earlier toll of six dead. "Nothing happened to the minister," the source said. Loyalist military officials said in late January that the Huthis had made gains against government troops north and east of the capital, seizing a strategic road. The road connects Sanaa to the provinces of Marib, to the east, and Jawf in the north. Before the latest upsurge in fighting, Jawf province had been mostly controlled by the Huthis, with its capital still in the hands of the government. Marib province, including its capital, is under government control. The renewed fighting, which erupted several weeks ago, included a January 18 missile strike on a loyalist military camp that killed 116 people. Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed and millions been displaced in a war that the United Nations has termed the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Yemen minister's bodyguards killed in convoy blast

The fate of the crew of a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/latest-world-news-31-civilians-killed-in-yemens-air-strikes-after-saudi-jet-crash-280916">Saudi warplane that crashed in Yemen remained uncertain Sunday</a> after Iran-linked Huthi rebels claimed to have shot down the aircraft.

The Riyadh-led military coalition fighting the rebels said the two officers ejected from the plane before it crashed in northern Al-Jawf province Friday but that the rebels opened fire at them in "violation of the international humanitarian law".

"The joint forces command of the Coalition holds the terrorist Huthi militia responsible for the lives and wellbeing of the Tornado air crew under the international humanitarian law," the coalition said in a statement released by the official Saudi Press Agency late Saturday.

The statement did not specify whether the crew had survived or if they had been captured after the plane crashed in Huthi-controlled territory.

The coalition also did not elaborate on the reasons for the crash.

But if Huthi involvement is confirmed, the rare downing of a coalition warplane would mark a setback for a military alliance known for its air supremacy and signal the rebels' increasingly potent arsenal.

The rebels released footage of what they called the launch of their "advanced surface-to-air missile" and the moment it purportedly struck the jet in the night sky, sending it crashing down in a ball of flames.

The crash triggered air strikes in the area where the plane went down, an apparent Saudi-led retaliation that the UN said left 31 civilians dead and 12 others wounded.

The rebels reported multiple coalition air strikes in the area, adding that women and children were among the dead and wounded, according to rebel television station Al-Masirah.

The coalition conceded the "possibility of collateral damage" during a "search and rescue operation" at the site of the jet crash.

The coalition force has been widely criticised for the high civilian death toll from its bombing campaigns in Yemen, which has prompted some Western governments to cut arms deliveries to the countries taking part.

The coalition intervened against the Huthis in 2015, in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people, most of them civilians, and sparked what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

The fate of the crew of a Saudi warplane that crashed in Yemen remained uncertain Sunday after Iran-linked Huthi rebels claimed to have shot down the aircraft. The Riyadh-led military coalition fighting the rebels said the two officers ejected from the plane before it crashed in northern Al-Jawf province Friday but that the rebels opened fire at them in "violation of the international humanitarian law".

The fate of the crew of a Saudi warplane that crashed in Yemen remained uncertain Sunday after Iran-linked Huthi rebels claimed to have shot down the aircraft. The Riyadh-led military coalition fighting the rebels said the two officers ejected from the plane before it crashed in northern Al-Jawf province Friday but that the rebels opened fire at them in "violation of the international humanitarian law". "The joint forces command of the Coalition holds the terrorist Huthi militia responsible for the lives and wellbeing of the Tornado air crew under the international humanitarian law," the coalition said in a statement released by the official Saudi Press Agency late Saturday. The statement did not specify whether the crew had survived or if they had been captured after the plane crashed in Huthi-controlled territory. The coalition also did not elaborate on the reasons for the crash. But if Huthi involvement is confirmed, the rare downing of a coalition warplane would mark a setback for a military alliance known for its air supremacy and signal the rebels' increasingly potent arsenal. The rebels released footage of what they called the launch of their "advanced surface-to-air missile" and the moment it purportedly struck the jet in the night sky, sending it crashing down in a ball of flames. The crash triggered air strikes in the area where the plane went down, an apparent Saudi-led retaliation that the UN said left 31 civilians dead and 12 others wounded. The rebels reported multiple coalition air strikes in the area, adding that women and children were among the dead and wounded, according to rebel television station Al-Masirah. The coalition conceded the "possibility of collateral damage" during a "search and rescue operation" at the site of the jet crash. The coalition force has been widely criticised for the high civilian death toll from its bombing campaigns in Yemen, which has prompted some Western governments to cut arms deliveries to the countries taking part. The coalition intervened against the Huthis in 2015, in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands of people, most of them civilians, and sparked what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Questions hang over fate of Saudi crew in Yemen jet crash

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement accused the Saudi-led coalition of carrying out retaliatory airstrikes on Saturday that killed at least 30 people including civilians, in the latest flare-up of a five-year war.

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement accused the Saudi-led coalition of carrying out retaliatory airstrikes on Saturday that killed at least 30 people including civilians, in the latest flare-up of a five-year war. The United Nations office in Yemen said preliminary field reports indicated that "as many as 31 civilians were killed and 12 others injured in strikes that hit Al-Hajah area" in Al-Jawf province. The health ministry in Houthi-controlled Al-Jawf province said women and children were among those killed, Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV reported. It followed a Houthi claim to have downed a coalition Tornado warplane in the area on Friday. [ Civilians gathering around the wreckage for inspection in Yemen (Courtesy: Reuters) ] Also Read: Drone shot down in Yemen, Houthi group responsible: US officials But the Saudi-led coalition's spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki said only that a Tornado jet had crashed in Al-Jawf, Saudi state news agency (SPA) reported on Saturday. Maliki later said that rescue operations had been launched and that the possibility of "collateral damages" has been reported, without providing more details. Maliki said the crew of two officers ejected from the plane before it crashed but the Houthis opened fire at them. | [ Civilians gather at crash site to inspect the wreckage (Courtesy: Reuters) ] The office of the UN resident coordinator in Yemen said in a statement that humanitarian partners have deployed rapid response teams for the victims, many of whom were being transferred to hospitals in Al-Jawf governorate and Sanaa for treatment. The Saudi-led Sunni Muslim coalition intervened in Yemen in March 2015 after the Houthis ousted the internationally recognised government from power in the capital, Sanaa, in 2014. The conflict is widely seen as a proxy war between Saudi Arabia and its regional foe, Shi’ite Muslim Iran. There was no independent verification of the airstrikes or Tornado downing.

'31 civilians' killed in Yemen's air strikes after Saudi jet crash

A Saudi fighter jet crashed in conflict-torn Yemen, the Riyadh-led military coalition supporting the government announced Saturday, as the Iran-backed Huthi rebels said they downed the plane.

The Tornado aircraft came down on Friday in northern Al-Jawf province during an operation to assist Yemeni government forces, the coalition said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

It did not specify the fate of the crew or the cause of the crash.

The Huthis' Al-Masirah television said the jet was downed by the rebels using an "advanced surface-to-air missile".

The insurgents reported multiple coalition airstrikes on Saturday in the Huthi-controlled area where the plane went down as local residents gathered near the wreckage, according to Al-Masirah.

The bombing raids left "dozens" of people dead or wounded, Al-Masirah added, a claim that could not be immediately verified by local aid workers.

The coalition intervened against the Huthis in 2015, first with air and naval forces and later with ground forces as well.

The fighting has killed tens of thousands of people, most of them civilians, and sparked what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

The coalition has been widely criticised for the high civilian death toll from its bombing campaign, which has prompted some Western governments to cut arms deliveries to the countries taking part.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE have purchased billions of dollars' worth of weapons from the United States, France and Britain.

On Wednesday, the coalition said it would put on trial military personnel suspected of being behind deadly airstrikes on Yemeni civilians.

The cases being investigated include a 2018 airstrike on a school bus in the northern region of Dahyan that killed at least 40 children, Saudi-based Arab News said.

A Saudi fighter jet crashed in conflict-torn Yemen, the Riyadh-led military coalition supporting the government announced Saturday, as the Iran-backed Huthi rebels said they downed the plane.

A Saudi fighter jet crashed in conflict-torn Yemen, the Riyadh-led military coalition supporting the government announced Saturday, as the Iran-backed Huthi rebels said they downed the plane. The Tornado aircraft came down on Friday in northern Al-Jawf province during an operation to assist Yemeni government forces, the coalition said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. It did not specify the fate of the crew or the cause of the crash. The Huthis' Al-Masirah television said the jet was downed by the rebels using an "advanced surface-to-air missile". The insurgents reported multiple coalition airstrikes on Saturday in the Huthi-controlled area where the plane went down as local residents gathered near the wreckage, according to Al-Masirah. The bombing raids left "dozens" of people dead or wounded, Al-Masirah added, a claim that could not be immediately verified by local aid workers. The coalition intervened against the Huthis in 2015, first with air and naval forces and later with ground forces as well. The fighting has killed tens of thousands of people, most of them civilians, and sparked what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The coalition has been widely criticised for the high civilian death toll from its bombing campaign, which has prompted some Western governments to cut arms deliveries to the countries taking part. Saudi Arabia and the UAE have purchased billions of dollars' worth of weapons from the United States, France and Britain. On Wednesday, the coalition said it would put on trial military personnel suspected of being behind deadly airstrikes on Yemeni civilians. The cases being investigated include a 2018 airstrike on a school bus in the northern region of Dahyan that killed at least 40 children, Saudi-based Arab News said.

Saudi warplane crashes in Yemen, rebels say they downed it

Just days after &nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/enemy-fabricated-propaganda-says-taliban-as-it-denies-killing-of-south-asia-region-al-qaeda-chief-asim-umar-in-afghanistan-254669">Al-Qaeda</a> in the Arabian Peninsula(AQAP)claimed responsibility on Sunday for a December 6 shooting at US Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida, US President Donald Trump confirmed that US forces had killed its founder and leader Qassim al-Rimi.

"The US conducted a counterterrorism operation in Yemen that successfully eliminated Qassim al-Rimi, a founder and the leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)," Trump said in a statement.

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"Under Rimi, AQAP committed unconscionable violence against civilians in Yemen and sought to conduct and inspire numerous attacks against the United States and our forces," <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-confirms-death-of-al-qaeda-heir-hamza-bin-laden-249686">Trump</a> said, adding,"His death further degrades AQAP and the global al-Qaeda movement, and it brings us closer to eliminating the threats these groups pose to our national security."

In December, in an audio release, the AQAP had said it had carried out shooting in US naval base in Pensacola, Florida in which eight people were wounded including two police officers. Reports had circulated over several days that Qassim al-Rimi was killed in a drone strike &nbsp;Marib but it couldn't be confirmed.

FBI had confirmed the attacker to be Mohammed Alshamrani, an officer in the Royal Saudi Air Force who was training in the US.

Saudi Arabia's King Salman had denounced the shooting calling it a "heinous crime"

Reuters had quoted One Yemeni government official saying that there had been a drone strike in Marib but it was not Raymi who had been killed. The US president in his statement, however, did not state how Qassim al-Rimi was killed.

Just days after Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula(AQAP)claimed responsibility on Sunday for a December 6 shooting at US Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida, US President Donald Trump confirmed that US forces had killed its founder and leader Qassim al-Rimi.

Just days after Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula(AQAP)claimed responsibility on Sunday for a December 6 shooting at US Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida, US President Donald Trump confirmed that US forces had killed its founder and leader Qassim al-Rimi. "The US conducted a counterterrorism operation in Yemen that successfully eliminated Qassim al-Rimi, a founder and the leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)," Trump said in a statement. Also Read: South Asia region Al-Qaeda chief killed in Afghanistan "Under Rimi, AQAP committed unconscionable violence against civilians in Yemen and sought to conduct and inspire numerous attacks against the United States and our forces," Trump said, adding,"His death further degrades AQAP and the global al-Qaeda movement, and it brings us closer to eliminating the threats these groups pose to our national security." In December, in an audio release, the AQAP had said it had carried out shooting in US naval base in Pensacola, Florida in which eight people were wounded including two police officers. Reports had circulated over several days that Qassim al-Rimi was killed in a drone strike Marib but it couldn't be confirmed. FBI had confirmed the attacker to be Mohammed Alshamrani, an officer in the Royal Saudi Air Force who was training in the US. Saudi Arabia's King Salman had denounced the shooting calling it a "heinous crime" Reuters had quoted One Yemeni government official saying that there had been a drone strike in Marib but it was not Raymi who had been killed. The US president in his statement, however, did not state how Qassim al-Rimi was killed.

US killed chief of Al-Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula in Yemen: Trump

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As several airlines halted and suspended flights to Wuhan, the death toll in the coronavirus in China rose to 132. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/several-countries-suspend-flights-to-china-as-coronavirus-death-toll-climbs-to-132-277368">Read more</a>

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American warplanes dropped more bombs on Afghanistan in 2019 than at any other time in at least a decade, according to the US Air Force, as Washington intensified attacks in the country amid withdrawal talks with the Taliban. <a href="wionews.com/world/united-states-bombing-of-afghanistan-hits-10-year-high-us-air-force-277324">Read more&nbsp;</a>

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A major earthquake of 7.7 magnitude struck the Caribbean region between Jamaica and Cuba, triggering a brief tsunami alert and sending hundreds of people pouring onto the streets of Havana on Tuesday. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/earthquake-of-77-magnitude-strikes-the-caribbean-tsunami-warning-issued-277318">Read more</a>

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Saudi Arabia's Aramco facilities in Jizan targeted, claim Yemen's Houthis Yemen's Houthi movement claimed to have targeted Saudi Arabia's Aramco facilities in the port city of Jizan, reports said.

Saudi Arabia's Aramco facilities in Jizan targeted, claim Yemen's Houthis Yemen's Houthi movement claimed to have targeted Saudi Arabia's Aramco facilities in the port city of Jizan, reports said. Read more Several countries suspend flights to China as Coronavirus death toll climbs to 132 As several airlines halted and suspended flights to Wuhan, the death toll in the coronavirus in China rose to 132. Read more US charges Harvard and Boston academics for spying, links with China The United States has been sceptical about China spying on its technological advances. Read more United States bombing of Afghanistan hits 10-year high: US Air Force American warplanes dropped more bombs on Afghanistan in 2019 than at any other time in at least a decade, according to the US Air Force, as Washington intensified attacks in the country amid withdrawal talks with the Taliban. Read more US House passes bill to support Tibet, warns sanctions on Chinese officials for interfering in Dalai Lama's succession The US House of Representatives has passed a bill strengthening Washington's support for human rights and environmental protection in Tibet, and advocating sanctions against China if it interferes in the succession of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama. Read more Earthquake of 7.7 magnitude strikes the Caribbean, tsunami warning issued A major earthquake of 7.7 magnitude struck the Caribbean region between Jamaica and Cuba, triggering a brief tsunami alert and sending hundreds of people pouring onto the streets of Havana on Tuesday. Read more Australian PM seeks greater federal powers to protect the nation from threatening bushfires Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Wednesday he wants greater federal powers during natural disasters, as authorities warned bushfires ravaging the country for months were sweeping through a national park near the capital. Read more 50 US troops diagnosed with traumatic brain injury after Iran strike: Pentagon 50 US service members have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury after its base in Iraq was attacked by Iranian missiles earlier this month. Read more Australians scientists recreate coronavirus first time outside of China A team of scientists in Australia have successfully replicated a lab-grown version of coronavirus the first to be recreated outside of China, is a significant breakthrough that could help combat the global spread of the illness. Read more Palestinians infuriated as Trump unveils Middle-East peace plan with Jerusalem as Capital US President Donald Trump's peace plan for West Asia delights Israel but fails to recognise Palestinian sovereign ambition. Read more

Top 10 world news today: Saudi Aramco Jizan facilities targeted, Coronavirus death toll rises and more

Over 80 Yemeni soldiers were killed and several wounded in missile and drone attack blamed on Huthi rebels in central Yemen, sources said on Sunday.&nbsp;

A mosque in a military camp was attacked by the Huthis in the central province of Marib, during evening prayers, military sources said.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-climbs-to-seven-in-missile-attack-in-yemen-270894">Death toll climbs to seven in missile attack in Yemen</a>

A medical source at a Marib city hospital, where casualties were admitted, informed that 83 soldiers are killed and 148 injured in the attack.&nbsp;

Saudi state TV said that 60 people are killed in the attack.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/blast-hits-military-parade-in-yemen-at-least-five-dead-270854">Blast hits military parade in Yemen, at least five dead</a>

Death toll figures are mostly disputed, but the huge toll from this strike means that it is one of the bloodiest attacks since the beginning of the war&nbsp;in 2014 when Sanaa was captured by rebels.&nbsp;

The attack came a day after the coalition-backed government forces initiated a large-scale operation against the Huthis in the Nihm region, north of Sanaa.&nbsp;

Another military source informed that fighting in Nihm is ongoing on Sunday.&nbsp;

"Dozens from the (Huthi) militia were killed and injured," the source said.&nbsp;

Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi condemned the mosque attack.&nbsp;

"The disgraceful actions of the Huthi militia without a doubt confirm its unwillingness to (achieve) peace, because it knows nothing but death and destruction and is a cheap Iranian tool in the region," official Saba news agency quoted Hadi as saying.&nbsp;

The drone and missile attack comes after months of relative peace in the war between Iran-backed Huthis and Yemen's internationally recognised government, which is backed by Saudi and its military allies.&nbsp;

Recently, United Nations envoy Martin Griffiths also welcomed a significant reduction in airstrikes and the movement of ground troops.&nbsp;

Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed and millions displaced in the war in Yemen, which the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

An UN-brokered agreement signed between the warring sides in December 2018 is seen as a hope to reduce the crisis in Yemen but the slow implementation means that the intense conflict continues.&nbsp;

(With inputs from AFP and Reuters)

Over 80 Yemeni soldiers were killed and several wounded in missile and drone attack blamed on Huthi rebels in central Yemen, sources said on Sunday. A mosque in a military camp was attacked by the Huthis in the central province of Marib, during evening prayers, military sources said.

Over 80 Yemeni soldiers were killed and several wounded in missile and drone attack blamed on Huthi rebels in central Yemen, sources said on Sunday. A mosque in a military camp was attacked by the Huthis in the central province of Marib, during evening prayers, military sources said. Also read: Death toll climbs to seven in missile attack in Yemen A medical source at a Marib city hospital, where casualties were admitted, informed that 83 soldiers are killed and 148 injured in the attack. Saudi state TV said that 60 people are killed in the attack. Also read: Blast hits military parade in Yemen, at least five dead Death toll figures are mostly disputed, but the huge toll from this strike means that it is one of the bloodiest attacks since the beginning of the war in 2014 when Sanaa was captured by rebels. The attack came a day after the coalition-backed government forces initiated a large-scale operation against the Huthis in the Nihm region, north of Sanaa. Another military source informed that fighting in Nihm is ongoing on Sunday. "Dozens from the (Huthi) militia were killed and injured," the source said. Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi condemned the mosque attack. "The disgraceful actions of the Huthi militia without a doubt confirm its unwillingness to (achieve) peace, because it knows nothing but death and destruction and is a cheap Iranian tool in the region," official Saba news agency quoted Hadi as saying. The drone and missile attack comes after months of relative peace in the war between Iran-backed Huthis and Yemen's internationally recognised government, which is backed by Saudi and its military allies. Recently, United Nations envoy Martin Griffiths also welcomed a significant reduction in airstrikes and the movement of ground troops. Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed and millions displaced in the war in Yemen, which the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. An UN-brokered agreement signed between the warring sides in December 2018 is seen as a hope to reduce the crisis in Yemen but the slow implementation means that the intense conflict continues. (With inputs from AFP and Reuters)

Yemen: Over 80 killed in missile attack, bloodiest since beginning of war

Yemen's president told the military on Sunday it needs to be on high alert and ready for battle following an attack on Saturday by Iran-aligned <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-investigators-find-yemens-houthis-did-not-carry-out-saudi-oil-attack-273077">Houthis</a> on a military training camp in the city of Marib.

The attack "confirms without a doubt that the Houthis have no desire for peace", <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/death-toll-climbs-to-seven-in-missile-attack-in-yemen-270894">Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi</a> said, in a statement on Yemen's state news agency SABA.

The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for Saturday's attack.

The attack killed 73 people and left dozens wounded, two medical sources told reporters. The sources said the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/17-civilians-killed-in-3rd-attack-on-yemen-market-united-nations-270403">attack</a> targeted a mosque in the camp as people gathered for prayer.

Saudi state TV put the death toll from the attack at 60.

A proxy war has been playing out in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/blast-hits-military-parade-in-yemen-at-least-five-dead-270854">Yemen</a> between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 to restore Hadi's government, which the Houthis ousted from power in the capital Sanaa and is now based in the southern port city of Aden.

The Houthis deny being puppets of Iran and say they are fighting a corrupt system.

Yemen's president told the military on Sunday it needs to be on high alert and ready for battle following an attack on Saturday by Iran-aligned Houthis on a military training camp in the city of Marib.

Yemen's president told the military on Sunday it needs to be on high alert and ready for battle following an attack on Saturday by Iran-aligned Houthis on a military training camp in the city of Marib. The attack "confirms without a doubt that the Houthis have no desire for peace", Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi said, in a statement on Yemen's state news agency SABA. The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for Saturday's attack. The attack killed 73 people and left dozens wounded, two medical sources told reporters. The sources said the attack targeted a mosque in the camp as people gathered for prayer. Saudi state TV put the death toll from the attack at 60. A proxy war has been playing out in Yemen between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 to restore Hadi's government, which the Houthis ousted from power in the capital Sanaa and is now based in the southern port city of Aden. The Houthis deny being puppets of Iran and say they are fighting a corrupt system.

'Military needs to be on high alert': President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi

January 14 in History: From third battle of Panipat to an open war and lot more!

At least seven people were killed and several injured in a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/blast-hits-military-parade-in-yemen-at-least-five-dead-270854">missile attack </a>on a military parade in Yemen's town of al-Dhalea on Sunday.&nbsp;

Government-allied southern separatist forces who control that area blamed Iran-backed Houthi group for the attack. However, no immediate claim of responsibility was made by the Houthis.

The missile struck a parade ground where a military graduation for Security Belt forces had just finished, Security Belt group and the al-Dhalea southern separatist forces said.

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/missile-hits-military-parade-in-yemen-killing-at-least-five-270904/embed" width="560" height="350" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" autoplay=1 allowfullscreen></iframe></div>

Seven people died in the attack which included four children and 25 others were wounded, as per the statement by local forces spokesperson.&nbsp;

As per witnesses account, the missile blasted near a guest platform during the parade.&nbsp;

The Security Belt group is a part of southern separatist forces in south Yemen and backs the creation of an independent state.&nbsp;

UAE also supports the Security Belt forces in a battle against the Iran-aligned Houthis.&nbsp;

Yemen is in the middle of massive chaos since almost five years when the Houthi movement ousted President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's government in late 2014. The Saudi-led coalition, including the United Arab Emirates intervened militarily, in order to restore Hadi's internationally recognized government.

(with inputs from Reuters)

At least seven people were killed and several injured in a missile attack on a military parade in Yemen's town of al-Dhalea on Sunday. Government-allied southern separatist forces who control that area blamed Iran-backed Houthi group for the attack.

At least seven people were killed and several injured in a missile attack on a military parade in Yemen's town of al-Dhalea on Sunday. Government-allied southern separatist forces who control that area blamed Iran-backed Houthi group for the attack. However, no immediate claim of responsibility was made by the Houthis. The missile struck a parade ground where a military graduation for Security Belt forces had just finished, Security Belt group and the al-Dhalea southern separatist forces said. Watch Video: Seven people died in the attack which included four children and 25 others were wounded, as per the statement by local forces spokesperson. As per witnesses account, the missile blasted near a guest platform during the parade. The Security Belt group is a part of southern separatist forces in south Yemen and backs the creation of an independent state. UAE also supports the Security Belt forces in a battle against the Iran-aligned Houthis. Yemen is in the middle of massive chaos since almost five years when the Houthi movement ousted President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's government in late 2014. The Saudi-led coalition, including the United Arab Emirates intervened militarily, in order to restore Hadi's internationally recognized government. (with inputs from Reuters)

Death toll climbs to seven in missile attack in Yemen

A missile fired by the Iran-aligned Houthi group struck a military parade in Yemen’s town of al-Dhalea, killing at least seven people and wounding several.

Missile hits military parade in Yemen, killing at least Five

A missile fired by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group struck a military parade in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/17-civilians-killed-in-3rd-attack-on-yemen-market-united-nations-270403">Yemen</a>'s southern separatist-held town of al-Dhalea, killing at least five people and injuring others, Yemen's Security Belt forces said on Sunday.

No claim of responsibility was made and Houthi media did not immediately comment on the blast or accusation.

The Security Belt forces are part of a southern separatist front in south Yemen. At the same time, they are backed by the United Arab Emirates in a fight against Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group.

Witnesses told Reuters that a blast occurred near a guest platform during the parade and that many were injured or killed. They reported seeing bodies at the scene.

At least five people died and eight were injured, according to local health authority figures quoted by the Security Belt group and in a statement from the local media office of the forces which control al-Dhalea.

A missile blast struck the military graduation parade area just after the ceremony involving Security Belt forces had finished, the statements said.

Yemen has suffered from almost five years of conflict since the Houthi movement ousted President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's government in late 2014. The coup drew military intervention in 2015 by a Saudi-led coalition, which includes the UAE, trying to restore Hadi's internationally recognized government.

The town of al-Dhalea is controlled by southern separatist forces. It lies on the main south-to-north road linking the southern port of Aden — controlled by Hadi's government — to the Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa. A contested frontline runs across al-Dhalea province.

In August the Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile and drone attack on a parade in Aden, the seat of the internationally recognised government, killing around 36 people including a prominent commander.

A missile fired by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group struck a military parade in Yemen's southern separatist-held town of al-Dhalea, killing at least five people and injuring others, Yemen's Security Belt forces said on Sunday.

A missile fired by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group struck a military parade in Yemen's southern separatist-held town of al-Dhalea, killing at least five people and injuring others, Yemen's Security Belt forces said on Sunday. No claim of responsibility was made and Houthi media did not immediately comment on the blast or accusation. The Security Belt forces are part of a southern separatist front in south Yemen. At the same time, they are backed by the United Arab Emirates in a fight against Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group. Witnesses told Reuters that a blast occurred near a guest platform during the parade and that many were injured or killed. They reported seeing bodies at the scene. At least five people died and eight were injured, according to local health authority figures quoted by the Security Belt group and in a statement from the local media office of the forces which control al-Dhalea. A missile blast struck the military graduation parade area just after the ceremony involving Security Belt forces had finished, the statements said. Yemen has suffered from almost five years of conflict since the Houthi movement ousted President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's government in late 2014. The coup drew military intervention in 2015 by a Saudi-led coalition, which includes the UAE, trying to restore Hadi's internationally recognized government. The town of al-Dhalea is controlled by southern separatist forces. It lies on the main south-to-north road linking the southern port of Aden — controlled by Hadi's government — to the Houthi-controlled capital, Sanaa. A contested frontline runs across al-Dhalea province. In August the Houthis claimed responsibility for a missile and drone attack on a parade in Aden, the seat of the internationally recognised government, killing around 36 people including a prominent commander.

Blast hits military parade in Yemen, at least five dead

Seventeen civilians were killed in an attack in a market in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/west-asia/in-yemen-a-child-dies-every-10-minutes-from-easily-preventable-diseases-175690">Yemen</a>'s northern Saada governorate, the United Nations said, the third deadly assault on the same location in just over a month.

The attacks come despite relative calm in Yemen, where large-scale combat between government troops backed by a Saudi-led military coalition and the Iran-aligned Huthi rebels has largely subsided.&nbsp;

The UN said 12 Ethiopian migrants were among the 17 civilians killed in the incident on Tuesday at the Al-Raqw market in Saada governorate, a Huthi rebel stronghold.&nbsp;

At least 12 people were wounded, it said, without saying who was responsible or what weaponry was used.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;Saudi-led coalition acknowledged on Thursday it had carried out an operation in Monabbih, a Saada district where the market is located.&nbsp;

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-france-britain-may-be-complicit-in-yemen-war-crimes-un-report-247434">Joint Incident Assessment Team</a> (JIAT) which the coalition established but says operates independently&nbsp;will investigate "the possibility of collateral damage", coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said in a statement.

The coalition did not provide further details.&nbsp;

An attack on the Al-Raqw market on November 22 killed 10 civilians, again including Ethiopian nationals, and just days later, at least another 10 civilians were killed and 22 wounded in a second such incident.

"The attacks on Al-Raqw market raise deeply troubling questions about the commitment of the parties to the conflict to uphold international humanitarian law," Lise Grande, the UN's humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, said Wednesday.&nbsp;

"Every attack of this kind is a gross violation," she said in a statement.

The UN says 89 civilians have either been killed or wounded in the attacks on the market.&nbsp;

Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed and millions displaced since March 2015, when the Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen's conflict.&nbsp;

Seventeen civilians were killed in an attack in a market in Yemen's northern Saada governorate, the United Nations said, the third deadly assault on the same location in just over a month.

Seventeen civilians were killed in an attack in a market in Yemen's northern Saada governorate, the United Nations said, the third deadly assault on the same location in just over a month. The attacks come despite relative calm in Yemen, where large-scale combat between government troops backed by a Saudi-led military coalition and the Iran-aligned Huthi rebels has largely subsided. The UN said 12 Ethiopian migrants were among the 17 civilians killed in the incident on Tuesday at the Al-Raqw market in Saada governorate, a Huthi rebel stronghold. At least 12 people were wounded, it said, without saying who was responsible or what weaponry was used. The Saudi-led coalition acknowledged on Thursday it had carried out an operation in Monabbih, a Saada district where the market is located. The Joint Incident Assessment Team (JIAT) which the coalition established but says operates independently will investigate "the possibility of collateral damage", coalition spokesman Turki al-Maliki said in a statement. The coalition did not provide further details. An attack on the Al-Raqw market on November 22 killed 10 civilians, again including Ethiopian nationals, and just days later, at least another 10 civilians were killed and 22 wounded in a second such incident. "The attacks on Al-Raqw market raise deeply troubling questions about the commitment of the parties to the conflict to uphold international humanitarian law," Lise Grande, the UN's humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, said Wednesday. "Every attack of this kind is a gross violation," she said in a statement. The UN says 89 civilians have either been killed or wounded in the attacks on the market. Tens of thousands of people, mostly civilians, have been killed and millions displaced since March 2015, when the Saudi-led coalition intervened in Yemen's conflict.

17 civilians killed in 3rd attack on Yemen market: United Nations

The war that has ravaged&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/200-yemen-rebels-to-be-freed-amid-peace-push-saudi-led-coalition-264761">Yemen</a>&nbsp;has especially impacted the country's estimated 4.5 million people living with disabilities, Amnesty International warned in a report Tuesday.

The London-based human rights group called on donors, aid groups and UN agencies to take steps to better assist people with disabilities in displaced people's centres.

"Yemen's war has been characterised by unlawful bombings, displacement and a dearth of basic services, leaving many struggling to survive," said Rawya Rageh, senior crisis adviser at Amnesty.

"The humanitarian response is overstretched, but people with disabilities,&nbsp;who are already among those most at risk in armed conflict,&nbsp;should not face even greater challenges in accessing essential aid."

The conflict between Saudi-backed government forces and Iran-backed Huthi rebels has raged since 2015, sparking what the United Nations terms the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

Amnesty reported that many people with disabilities who have been forced to flee the violence had to leave behind their crutches or wheelchairs in the chaos of war.

In the worst cases, it was the disabled people themselves who were left behind by their families after being separated while fleeing their homes, said the report.

Published on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the report documented the experience of 53 women, men and children with a wide spectrum of disabilities.

Amnesty pointed to "design flaws" in camps for the displaced, including in latrines and at aid distribution points, that were impacting people with disabilities.

These "strip people with disabilities of their independence and dignity by forcing them to rely on their families or others," it said.

A 75-year-old man with limited mobility said he needed to have his sons take him to the latrine, telling the group's researchers: "They drag me. They can't carry me."

Rageh called on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/yemen-tough-times-ahead-for-honey-trade-as-war-cripples-country-263486">organisations providing humanitarian aid</a> to "do more to overcome the barriers that prevent people with disabilities from meeting even their most basic needs".&nbsp;

The brutal war and economic collapse had&nbsp;hit hard public health care and social welfare services, "resulting in a systematic failure to guarantee the rights of people with disabilities".&nbsp;

"Many rely on handouts or fend for themselves,&nbsp;with some forced into poverty to pay for basic supplies like medicines or adult diapers," Amnesty said.

"One man with a disability was forced to beg along the highway."

The war that has ravaged Yemen has especially impacted the country's estimated 4.5 million people living with disabilities, Amnesty International warned in a report Tuesday.

The war that has ravaged Yemen has especially impacted the country's estimated 4.5 million people living with disabilities, Amnesty International warned in a report Tuesday. The London-based human rights group called on donors, aid groups and UN agencies to take steps to better assist people with disabilities in displaced people's centres. "Yemen's war has been characterised by unlawful bombings, displacement and a dearth of basic services, leaving many struggling to survive," said Rawya Rageh, senior crisis adviser at Amnesty. "The humanitarian response is overstretched, but people with disabilities, who are already among those most at risk in armed conflict, should not face even greater challenges in accessing essential aid." The conflict between Saudi-backed government forces and Iran-backed Huthi rebels has raged since 2015, sparking what the United Nations terms the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Amnesty reported that many people with disabilities who have been forced to flee the violence had to leave behind their crutches or wheelchairs in the chaos of war. In the worst cases, it was the disabled people themselves who were left behind by their families after being separated while fleeing their homes, said the report. Published on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the report documented the experience of 53 women, men and children with a wide spectrum of disabilities. Amnesty pointed to "design flaws" in camps for the displaced, including in latrines and at aid distribution points, that were impacting people with disabilities. These "strip people with disabilities of their independence and dignity by forcing them to rely on their families or others," it said. A 75-year-old man with limited mobility said he needed to have his sons take him to the latrine, telling the group's researchers: "They drag me. They can't carry me." Rageh called on organisations providing humanitarian aid to "do more to overcome the barriers that prevent people with disabilities from meeting even their most basic needs". The brutal war and economic collapse had hit hard public health care and social welfare services, "resulting in a systematic failure to guarantee the rights of people with disabilities". "Many rely on handouts or fend for themselves, with some forced into poverty to pay for basic supplies like medicines or adult diapers," Amnesty said. "One man with a disability was forced to beg along the highway."

Disabled people hardest hit by war in Yemen: Amnesty

9 fishermen pull off a dramatic escape. These Indian fishermen escape alleged mistreatment Yemen. Watch this video to know more.

Watch: From Yemen to Kerala, 9 fishermen pull off dramatic escape

A fourth person in northern China has been diagnosed with the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-says-plague-outbreak-risk-minimal-after-two-new-cases-in-beijing-262088">plague this month</a>, officials confirmed, as a flea and rat eradication campaign was carried out by local government.

The Ulanqab government in central Inner Mongolia said on Wednesday that a herder who had been diagnosed with bubonic plague was currently being treated in isolation and was in a stable condition.

Another person was diagnosed with bubonic plague in Inner Mongolia's Xilin Gol league on November 16, more than 400 kilometres (250 miles) away.

And in mid-November two patients from Inner Mongolia were moved to Beijing for treatment of the highly-contagious pneumonic strain of the plague.

The pneumonic strain can prove fatal in 24 to 72 hours and is the "most virulent form" of the disease according to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-health-organization-says-e-cigarettes-undoubtedly-harmful-238779">World Health Organisation</a> (WHO), while the bubonic form is less dangerous.

The Ulanqab government said earlier that it had sprayed almost 200 acres of land last week as part of "rat- and flea-extermination work."

Ulanqab officials didn't disclose the specifics of how the latest patient caught the plague, but said the patient had been "active" in a plague-affected location prior to falling ill.

The plague germ Yersinia pestis can be transmitted to humans from infected rats via fleas.

Though the highly-contagious plague is rare in China, several cases have proven deadly in the past few years.

According to China's National Health Commission, a total of five people have died from the plague between 2014 and September of this year. &nbsp;

In 2014, a man died of the plague in northwestern Gansu province and sparked the quarantine of 151 people.

The 30,000 people living in Yumen, the town where the man died, were also prevented from leaving, with police at roadblocks placed on the town perimeter.

In neighbouring Mongolia, a couple died of the bubonic plague in May after they ate raw marmot meat, another carrier of the plague germ.

A fourth person in northern China has been diagnosed with the plague this month, officials confirmed, as a flea and rat eradication campaign was carried out by local government.

A fourth person in northern China has been diagnosed with the plague this month, officials confirmed, as a flea and rat eradication campaign was carried out by local government. The Ulanqab government in central Inner Mongolia said on Wednesday that a herder who had been diagnosed with bubonic plague was currently being treated in isolation and was in a stable condition. Another person was diagnosed with bubonic plague in Inner Mongolia's Xilin Gol league on November 16, more than 400 kilometres (250 miles) away. And in mid-November two patients from Inner Mongolia were moved to Beijing for treatment of the highly-contagious pneumonic strain of the plague. The pneumonic strain can prove fatal in 24 to 72 hours and is the "most virulent form" of the disease according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), while the bubonic form is less dangerous. The Ulanqab government said earlier that it had sprayed almost 200 acres of land last week as part of "rat- and flea-extermination work." Ulanqab officials didn't disclose the specifics of how the latest patient caught the plague, but said the patient had been "active" in a plague-affected location prior to falling ill. The plague germ Yersinia pestis can be transmitted to humans from infected rats via fleas. Though the highly-contagious plague is rare in China, several cases have proven deadly in the past few years. According to China's National Health Commission, a total of five people have died from the plague between 2014 and September of this year. In 2014, a man died of the plague in northwestern Gansu province and sparked the quarantine of 151 people. The 30,000 people living in Yumen, the town where the man died, were also prevented from leaving, with police at roadblocks placed on the town perimeter. In neighbouring Mongolia, a couple died of the bubonic plague in May after they ate raw marmot meat, another carrier of the plague germ.

China confirms fourth plague case

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