Fire at Yemen Port Destroys Aid Supplies

A fire broke out at the Hodeidah port in Yemen on Saturday, destroying warehouses which contained mattresses, cooking fuel and around 50 tons of food.

The fire is believed to have been started by an electrical short circuit, according to some port workers; others cite negligence in its detection and initial control measures.

Hodeidah port handles the bulk of Yemen’s imports including food and aid supplies. “The fire destroyed huge amounts of fuel and humanitarian aid and foodstuff,” a U.N. World Food Programme employee told Reuters.

The nation has been in the grips of war for over three years. Over 10,000 people have been killed and the United Nations says that three out of four Yemenis - 22 million civilians - need aid. The nation has also suffered the worst recorded cholera outbreak.