Aden--Aid agencies warned Monday of a growing humanitarian crisis including food shortages in Yemen as Saudi-led warplanes hit rebel positions for a third week and rival forces clashed.
Fighting was especially fierce in the main southern city of Aden, where medics and military forces said at least 30 people were killed in overnight clashes between rebels and supporters of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.
Residents said warplanes from a Saudi-led coalition of countries pounded the rebel-held presidential complex and other positions in Aden, Hadi's last refuge before he fled to neighbouring Saudi Arabia as the air war began on March 26.
The Huthi Shiite rebels, who have joined with forces loyal to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, advanced on Aden last month after seizing control of the capital Sanaa last year.
Saudi Arabia has accused Iran, the main Shiite power, of backing the rebel offensive and rallied support from fellow regional allies for the coalition.
Western powers have also backed Hadi as Yemen's legitimate ruler, while the United Nations has called for a resumption of UN-brokered talks aimed at bringing stability to the deeply divided country.
Heavy fighting in Aden overnight left at least 13 civilians, 11 rebels and six pro-Hadi fighters dead, medical and military sources said.
Humanitarian groups have struggled to bring aid into the country and said Monday the situation in Aden was deteriorating rapidly.
"Shops are closed. We have a problem of food," said Marie-Elisabeth Ingres, the Yemen representative of Doctors without Borders (MSF).
Metaz al-Maisuri, an activist residing in Aden, said basic services had stopped and there had been a "mass exodus" of civilians from the city.
"Schools, universities and all public and private facilities have been shut due" to the violence, he told AFP.
"Residents' lives have become very difficult and complicated... they can no longer obtain the food they need," he said.
AFP
