Houthis accused of blocking aid to city's civilians

A senior United Nations official has accused Yemen's dominant Houthi group of obstructing the delivery of humanitarian supplies to civilians in Taiz and warned that up to 200,000 people are living under "virtual siege" in the city.

Supporters of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, backed by Arab coalition forces, have been trying to capture the city, located some 205 km south of the capital, Sanaa, from Houthi fighters for months in clashes that have killed hundreds and displaced many more.

UN Under-Secretary for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Stephen O'Brien, said months of fighting has left some 200,000 civilians in a virtual state of siege in need of drinking water, medical treatments and other life-saving assistance and protection.