The Saudi-led coalition has responded to the appeal of the International Committee of the Red Cross by giving prompt clearance to deliver life-saving medical aid into Yemen.

This was disclosed by Brig. Gen. Ahmad Al-Assiri, a consultant at the defense minister’s office, while addressing a press conference at the Riyadh Air Base on Saturday.

Al-Assiri, who spoke in detail about the evacuation of foreigners from Yemen and the humanitarian aid to civilians, said: “The military coalition conducting airstrikes in Yemen airdropped crates filled with logistical support to anti-Houthi fighters in Aden. This will enable Popular Resistance Committees to fight and push back the terrorists.”

He said: “The operation is backed by naval forces, which are providing coordination and guidance to enable legitimate Yemeni fighters to launch a counterattack against the terrorists.”

Al-Assiri said the Kingdom had set up a committee for evacuation and humanitarian operations with a hotline (009661-4736140) for better coordination. He explained that a large number of foreign nationals from Pakistan, Russia, India, Algeria and Indonesia had been rescued and repatriated during the first phase.

“As part of the second phase, a schedule has been made to rescue nationals and aid workers of UNICEF, the Red Cross, Sudan, China and Djibouti,” he said and noted that requests for further evacuation have been made by the UN, EU, Pakistan, Jordan and Iraq for the second time.

On the clearance given to the Red Cross to rush aid to the Yemenis, Al-Assiri said: “The coalition was in touch with the Red Cross and their aid convoys had already been given the green light, and the aid will be delivered on a staggered schedule.”

The official assured that the coalition would facilitate aid and relief operations and enable aid agencies to reach needy people.

He, however, called on all UN agencies, NGOs and foreign missions to strictly comply with the appointed time and date to deliver aid or to execute evacuation missions.

Al-Assiri also called on the aid organizations to make sure that relief materials, including medicines delivered by them, must not fall in the hands of terrorists.

He said the airstrikes targeted military storage facilities and rebel hideouts on Saturday.

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