2nd Iranian aid ship sets sail for Yemen

The cargo vessel, dubbed Arezou (Wish), started its journey from Iran’s Imam Khomeini Port in the southwestern province of Khuzestan on Saturday night, the IRIB reported on Sunday.

Sa’dullah Abdullahi, the director of the Ports and Maritime Organization of Khuzestan, said the ship was loaded with 8,000 tons of rice and 1,000 tons of sugar at Imam Khomeini Port.

In May, another Iranian cargo ship, Nejat (Rescue), containing a consignment of 2,500 tons of much-needed aid, including food, medical supplies and tents, docked at a port in Djibouti for its consignment to be dispatched to Yemen. The aid was discussed to be delivered by the United Nations, which has established a delivery hub in the African country.

Saudi Arabia has blockaded the delivery of humanitarian aid for Yemen. In April, Riyadh prevented two Iranian aircraft from delivering medical aid and foodstuff to the impoverished people.

Saudi Arabia started its deadly aggression against Yemen in March. The Saudi pounding of Yemen as well as a Saudi blockade on the country also led to a serious shortage of food and water as well as medicines for Yemenis.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on June 5 that in excess of 20 million people are in need of humanitarian aid. UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Stephen O’Brien has described as “catastrophic” the situation in Yemen.
/SR