The Saudi-led coalition allows five ships into the Yemeni port of Hodeida

Five commercial ships carrying fuel have entered the Yemeni port of Hodeida on Wednesday after receiving approval from the Saudi-led coalition forces and permission from the internationally recognised government. The vessels moored at the port in the far west of the country to facilitate access to humanitarian goods for the local population under Houthi control.

Two of the five vessels are carrying a total of 45,000 tonnes of diesel, the third is carrying 5,000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas, while the last two contain 22,700 tonnes of fuel oil. "The move to allow five ships carrying gas and oil to enter the port was made to alleviate the suffering of Yemenis in Houthi-controlled areas and to ensure that they have access to humanitarian goods," announced recognised government spokesman Rajeh Badi.

The move comes days after coalition forces offered a ceasefire to Yemeni insurgents. The Tehran-backed Shia militia controls western Yemen and has been engaged in a bloody civil war since 2015 that has caused the world's largest humanitarian crisis. The offer included the reopening of Sana'a airport and UN supervision.

The Houthis rejected the proposal, saying it "does not contain any new or positive points". However, they demanded the lifting of the air and sea blockade as a condition for accepting the proposal. The Yemeni Ministry of Foreign Affairs therefore announced that it had allowed several fuel ships to enter the port of Hodeida to alleviate the humanitarian situation, without providing further details. 

Human rights organisations have denounced the naval and air blockade imposed by Saudi Arabia and the rest of the coalition forces. According to these groups, the obstructions by land, sea and air have prevented the population from accessing basic commodities and have significantly worsened humanitarian conditions. Eighty per cent of Yemenis are surviving on international aid. 

UN data show that as of 23 March, a total of 14 oil tankers were being held by coalition forces' warships off the port of Hodeida. Houthi chief negotiator Mohammed Abdulsalam has stated that "the supply of fuel, food, medical and basic goods is a humanitarian and legal right of the Yemeni people". "We do not accept any military or political conditions to receive them," he added. 

The internationally recognised government, however, has denounced the Houthis for controlling the distribution of supplies once they arrive at the port. "We know that the Houthis would use the fuel for their own purposes and store it for their own benefits," a government official told The National. He added that they are doing "everything possible to ensure that Yemenis have access to aid". 

The move has been praised by the UN. The deputy spokesman for the secretary-general, Farhan Haq, acknowledged it was a step in the right direction, and encouraged "all those involved to refrain from actions that would undermine the mediation efforts of Special Envoy Martin Griffiths and we call on them to continue to work to advance the political process in order to reach a negotiated solution to end the conflict".

The US State Department also welcomed the decision by coalition forces. "The free flow of fuel and other essential goods into and through Yemen is critical to support the delivery of humanitarian assistance and other essential activities," the statement said, adding that it "appreciates this decision by the Government of the Republic of Yemen". The fuel "must reach Yemeni markets without delay to power hospitals, ensure food delivery and access to water and generally help alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people," the letter included.

"There has been no specific request or suggestion for the UK to engage, but it is certainly something we would be prepared to consider if the conditions are right," British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said during an appearance before the Foreign Affairs Committee when asked about sending troops to Yemen. 

Johnson acknowledged that the UK government would consider the decision as part of a future UN mission and if conditions were right. However, the Prime Minister qualified that "the conditions would have to be really very different from now for us to go ahead with boots on the ground".

To questions from the committee's Conservative chairman, Tobias Ellwood, Johnson responded that the UK government supports the UN approach led by the special envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths. "I think it was unrealistic to simply say that you couldn't negotiate or talk to the Houthis in any way. I think we now have the opportunity to go further," he admitted.

Former British Chief of Defence Staff Lord David Richards acknowledged earlier this week that there was some pressure to deploy troops to the region. "I understand from my contacts that there is talk of some stabilisation force having to go into Yemen," he said. "If the Americans are involved in that, it would be very difficult for the UK to say no, we're not going to do that."