Latest news with #Skau
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
WFP halts food shipments to Houthi-held parts of Yemen after rebels seize warehouse
CAIRO (AP) — The World Food Program has halted food shipments to Houthi-held areas of Yemen and suspended food distribution there after the rebels looted one of its warehouses in the north, its deputy director said Thursday. The suspension is a further blow in the war-torn country, where hunger has been growing. In February, the WFP said 62% of households it surveyed couldn't get enough food, a figure that has been rising for the past nine months. It estimates that some 17 million people – early half Yemen's population -- are food insecure. Carl Skau, WFP's deputy executive director and chief operating officer, told The Associated Press that Houthis seized the warehouse in the northern region of Saada in mid-March and took around $1.6 million in supplies. The seizure was the latest friction between the Houthis and the United Nations. The rebels in recent months have detained dozens of U.N. staffers, as well as people associated with aid groups, civil society and the once-open U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, Yemen's capital. U.N. agencies, including the WFP, had already halted operations in Saada, the Houthis' stronghold, in February after seven WFP staffers and another U.N. worker were detained, and one of the WFP members died in prison. It continued low-level operations in other parts of Yemen under the Houthis' control. After the seizure of the warehouse, the WFP halted shipments of new supplies to Houthi-held areas, Skau said. 'The operating environment needs to be conducive for us to continue,' he said. 'We cannot accept that our colleagues are being detained, and much less so that our colleagues are dying in detention. And we cannot accept our assets are being looted.' 'It's something we don't take lightly because the needs are massive,' he said. 'The humanitarian implications of this are deep and extensive … It's clear the food security situation is deteriorating.' Yemen has been torn by civil war for more than a decade. Houthi rebels hold the capital Sanaa and much of the north and center of the country, where the majority of its population of nearly 40 million live. The internationally recognized government controls the south and west. Throughout the war, Yemen has been threatened by hunger, nearly falling into full-fledged famine. The impoverished nation imports most of its food. Skau said the WFP is seeking Houthi permission to distribute food that remains in other warehouses in the north. He said that if U.N. workers are released, it could resume programs distributing food to some 3 million people in Houthi-held areas. The WFP is also providing food assistance to some 1.6 million people in southern Yemen, areas controlled by the government and its allies. But the organization has warned its programs there could be hurt after U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has cut off funding for WFP's emergency programs in Yemen. A WFP official said the organization was reducing its staff in Yemen, and that around 200 employees – 40% of its workforce – have been given a month's notice. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the personnel situation. 'We have now a challenge in the south when it comes to the funding,' Skau said. 'But we're hoping that that can be resolved moving forward.'
Arab News
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
WFP halts food shipments to Houthi-held parts of Yemen after rebels seize warehouse
WFP said 62 percent of households it surveyed couldn't get enough foodThe seizure was the latest friction between the Houthis and the United NationsCAIRO: The World Food Program has halted food shipments to Houthi-held areas of Yemen and suspended food distribution there after the militants looted one of its warehouses in the north, its deputy director said suspension is a further blow in the war-torn country, where hunger has been growing. In February, the WFP said 62 percent of households it surveyed couldn't get enough food, a figure that has been rising for the past nine months. It estimates that some 17 million people – early half Yemen's population — are food Skau, WFP's deputy executive director and chief operating officer, told The Associated Press that Houthis seized the warehouse in the northern region of Saada in mid-March and took around $1.6 million in seizure was the latest friction between the Houthis and the United Nations. The militants in recent months have detained dozens of UN staffers, as well as people associated with aid groups, civil society and the once-open US Embassy in Sanaa, Yemen's agencies, including the WFP, had already halted operations in Saada, the Houthis' stronghold, in February after seven WFP staffers and another UN worker were detained, and one of the WFP members died in prison. It continued low-level operations in other parts of Yemen under the Houthis' the seizure of the warehouse, the WFP halted shipments of new supplies to Houthi-held areas, Skau said.'The operating environment needs to be conducive for us to continue,' he said. 'We cannot accept that our colleagues are being detained, and much less so that our colleagues are dying in detention. And we cannot accept our assets are being looted.''It's something we don't take lightly because the needs are massive,' he said. 'The humanitarian implications of this are deep and extensive … It's clear the food security situation is deteriorating.'Yemen has been torn by civil war for more than a decade. Houthi militants hold the capital Sanaa and much of the north and center of the country, where the majority of its population of nearly 40 million live. The internationally recognized government controls the south and the war, Yemen has been threatened by hunger, nearly falling into full-fledged famine. The impoverished nation imports most of its said the WFP is seeking Houthi permission to distribute food that remains in other warehouses in the north. He said that if UN workers are released, it could resume programs distributing food to some 3 million people in Houthi-held WFP is also providing food assistance to some 1.6 million people in southern Yemen, areas controlled by the government and its the organization has warned its programs there could be hurt after US President Donald Trump's administration has cut off funding for WFP's emergency programs in Yemen.A WFP official said the organization was reducing its staff in Yemen, and that around 200 employees – 40 percent of its workforce – have been given a month's notice. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the personnel situation.'We have now a challenge in the south when it comes to the funding,' Skau said. 'But we're hoping that that can be resolved moving forward.'
Associated Press
17-04-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
WFP halts food shipments to Houthi-held parts of Yemen after rebels seize warehouse
CAIRO (AP) — The World Food Program has halted food shipments to Houthi-held areas of Yemen and suspended food distribution there after the rebels looted one of its warehouses in the north, its deputy director said Thursday. The suspension is a further blow in the war-torn country, where hunger has been growing. In February, the WFP said 62% of households it surveyed couldn't get enough food, a figure that has been rising for the past nine months. It estimates that some 17 million people – early half Yemen's population -- are food insecure. Carl Skau, WFP's deputy executive director and chief operating officer, told The Associated Press that Houthis seized the warehouse in the northern region of Saada in mid-March and took around $1.6 million in supplies. The seizure was the latest friction between the Houthis and the United Nations. The rebels in recent months have detained dozens of U.N. staffers, as well as people associated with aid groups, civil society and the once-open U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, Yemen's capital. U.N. agencies, including the WFP, had already halted operations in Saada, the Houthis' stronghold, in February after seven WFP staffers and another U.N. worker were detained, and one of the WFP members died in prison. It continued low-level operations in other parts of Yemen under the Houthis' control. After the seizure of the warehouse, the WFP halted shipments of new supplies to Houthi-held areas, Skau said. 'The operating environment needs to be conducive for us to continue,' he said. 'We cannot accept that our colleagues are being detained, and much less so that our colleagues are dying in detention. And we cannot accept our assets are being looted.' 'It's something we don't take lightly because the needs are massive,' he said. 'The humanitarian implications of this are deep and extensive … It's clear the food security situation is deteriorating.' Yemen has been torn by civil war for more than a decade. Houthi rebels hold the capital Sanaa and much of the north and center of the country, where the majority of its population of nearly 40 million live. The internationally recognized government controls the south and west. Throughout the war, Yemen has been threatened by hunger, nearly falling into full-fledged famine. The impoverished nation imports most of its food. Skau said the WFP is seeking Houthi permission to distribute food that remains in other warehouses in the north. He said that if U.N. workers are released, it could resume programs distributing food to some 3 million people in Houthi-held areas. The WFP is also providing food assistance to some 1.6 million people in southern Yemen, areas controlled by the government and its allies. But the organization has warned its programs there could be hurt after U.S. President Donald Trump's administration has cut off funding for WFP's emergency programs in Yemen. A WFP official said the organization was reducing its staff in Yemen, and that around 200 employees – 40% of its workforce – have been given a month's notice. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the personnel situation. 'We have now a challenge in the south when it comes to the funding,' Skau said. 'But we're hoping that that can be resolved moving forward.'
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Yahoo
UPDATED: Driver charged with DWI after she slams into New London apartment
New London — A North Providence, R.I., woman has been charged with driving under the influence after police say she rammed her car into the side of an apartment building late Tuesday night, displacing three families. Police said she then ran across the street and entered an occupied home. After she was arrested, she was brought to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital for treatment. City firefighters at 10:46 p.m. were dispatched to the Faire Harbour Landings apartment complex at 10 Anthony Road for a report of a car striking a building, Fire Chief Vernon Skau said on Wednesday. Skau said three apartments were evacuated, but there were no injuries. The Red Cross assisted the families. On Wednesday morning, a white Honda Accord with apartment debris over its hood and substantial front-end damage was still wedged into the corner of the building. An uprooted parking sign and post pieces were scattered near the entrance of the complex. An engineer is expected to be out (Wednesday morning) to see what needs to be done — or not done — to safely remove the vehicle and then assess the structure, Skau said. On Wednesday afternoon, police announced they had also charged Megan Perry, 35, with first-degree burglary, failure to drive right, evading responsibility, risk of injury to a minor and driving without insurance. She was held overnight on a $50,000 bond and arraigned in New London Superior Court on Wednesday.
Middle East Eye
07-02-2025
- General
- Middle East Eye
UN's World Food Programme calls on 'all donors' to feed Palestinians, rebuild Gaza
The United Nations World Food Programme urged the international community and "all donors" on Thursday to help feed millions of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and rebuild it. The UN agency said it had provided more than 15,000 tonnes of food since a fragile 19 January ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, feeding more than 525,000 people, but that much more needed to be done. "We call on the international community and all donors to continue supporting WFP's life-saving assistance at this pivotal moment," deputy executive director Carl Skau said. "The scale of the needs is enormous and progress must be maintained. The ceasefire must hold," he said in a statement. Skau said critical sectors are beyond food. "Water, sanitation, shelter, even getting children back into school - we need to work together," he said, adding that "this requires funding".
