United Nations, United States---The UN Security Council on Friday called an emergency meeting at Russia's request on the crisis in Yemen, where fuel shortages are threatening relief operations after a month-long bombing campaign.
Russia called for consultations of the 15-member council "because the situation is very bad in Yemen," said Alexey Zaytsev, spokesman for the Russian mission to the United Nations.
The meeting is set for 1700 GMT.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned Thursday that dire fuel shortages were threatening to bring all relief operations to a halt "within days" and said deliveries must resume immediately.
A month-long Saudi-led air campaign in Yemen has crippled deliveries of fuel, food and medicine while all airports are closed to civilian traffic and naval shipments are delayed.
Ban called for an immediate ceasefire and said, short of that, there should be humanitarian pauses in areas affected by the fighting.
Earlier this month, Russia presented a draft resolution to the council calling for humanitarian pauses to allow for foreigners to be evacuated and for aid to be delivered.
A coalition led by Saudi Arabia launched an air war on Yemen on March 26 to prevent Shiite Huthi rebels from seizing the entire territory and to restore the authority of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, who was forced into exile.
AFP
