"Cautious calm" in Yemen capital after three days of fighting: UN

Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-01 05:04:28|Editor: yan
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UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations confirmed on Wednesday The Southern Transitional Council (STC) has taken over much of Yemen's internationally recognized temporary capital of Aden introducing a "cautious calm" after three days of fighting.

"The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports a cautious calm in Aden, following three days of fighting during which the STC seized control of most of the city from forces loyal to the government of Yemen," Stephane Dujarric, chief UN spokesman told reporters at UN Headquarters.

"Some shops have re-opened in the city and civilians have been able to move out of their homes to stock up on essential supplies," he said. "Schools are still closed except in Al Bureka districts. Operations at Aden airport and sea port have yet to resume."

Dujarric said Humanitarian organizations hope to resume operations in the next few days, if the situation remains calm. Essential humanitarian staff reported to work Wednesday at the UN site.

While Aden port remains shuttered, the spokesman said there are six ships offloading at Hodeidah port, three carrying a combined 61,700 metric tons of food and three carrying a combined 33,265 metric tons of fuel.

However, he said there are seven other vessels at the anchorage area, carrying a combined 53,000 metric tons of fuel, waiting to dock. Humanitarian workers had been stymied in getting aid into Yemen, wracked by a 3-year civil war.

As for the turmoil in Aden, published reports said representatives of the STC, after capturing most of the temporary seat of government, vowed to continue to fight with the Saudi Arabia-led coalition defending the internationally recognized Aden government against the rebel Houthis who took over the traditional capital of Sanaa in 2015.

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