Yemeni women protesters urge end to Saudi aggression, siege

Yemeni women have held a demonstration outside the United Nations headquarters in the capital Sana’a, calling for an end to the Saudi offensive and its inhumane blockade on the impoverished state.

According to Press TV, during Wednesday’s protest that coincided with International Women's Day, the participants asked local and international organizations to stand by the Yemeni citizens and help provide vital supplies to the people.

The protesters were holding banners reading, “Yemeni women die due to war and siege,” “Millions in Yemen have no access to prescribed medicine,” and, “When will the international community break the silence toward Yemen siege?”

Human rights activist Mason Iryani said the Yemeni women had gathered in Sana’a “to send a message to the United Nations and the whole world to stop the blockade on Yemen and let the Yemeni people live. Yemeni women have suffered enough."

Last month, the UN aid chief estimated that 19 million Yemenis were in pressing need of humanitarian assistance.

The UN humanitarian coordinator in Yemen has also warned of a deepening food crisis in the country, saying almost a quarter of the country’s 27 million population is facing starvation.

Saudi Arabia has been leading a deadly military campaign against Yemen since March 2015. The kingdom has also imposed an aerial and naval blockade on its southern neighbor.

Britain and the US have provided huge amounts of arms and military training to the Saudi forces.

The Saudi aggression, which allegedly seeks to restore Yemen's former government to power, has martyred over 12,000 Yemenis according to the latest tallies.

ME