
Congressional Democrats call on Biden administration to demand Saudi Arabia lift blockade on Yemen
CNN
A group of more than 70 congressional Democrats has sent President Joe Biden a letter pushing the White House to encourage Saudi Arabia to end a blockade of Yemen that has led to food and fuel shortages in the country that have hampered the delivery of desperately needed food aid.
The letter comes after a CNN report about the impact of the blockade on the ground in Yemen. The investigation revealed that Saudi warships were preventing all oil tankers from docking at the key rebel-controlled port of Hodeidah, including 14 vessels that had gained approval from a United Nations clearance mechanism to berth. Four oil tankers were given rare permission by Yemen's internationally recognized government -- which is backed by Saudi Arabia and its military -- to dock between March 31 and April 8. But humanitarian agencies in Yemen have told CNN the fuel is nowhere near enough to deliver aid to millions of people in the country's north, where pockets of famine have arrived. There have been no indications from the government or Saudi Arabia that it plans to allow the other 10 vessels to berth.More Related News