Yemen’s Houthi rebels have again shelled a vital grain storage facility in central Hodeidah, forcing work to temporarily close at the site and jeopardising food aid to thousands of civilians.
The UN's World Food Programme said the mills, on the eastern edge of the important port city, were struck on December 26.
"The milling of WFP wheat at the Red Sea Mills near Hodeidah has been temporarily halted after they were hit by artillery fire," a spokesman told The National.
Col Wathah Al Dubaish of the pro-government Joint Forces said the Houthis had fired the shell from the city.
“The rebels targeted the silos of the facility with a mortar shell fired from a Houthi post in the centre of the city," Col Al Dubaish said.
The projectile caused partial damage in one of the silos, leading to a full halt in the grinding operations."
The attack comes amid tension between the UN agency and the rebels over the distribution of grain.
The Houthi rebels want the nearly 60,000 tonnes of grain to be distributed by their committees in Hodeidah, a demand rejected by the agency.
“The rebels deliberately pounded the facility, causing damage to some of the silos and to about 5,000 tonnes of wheat,” Col Al Dubaish said.
He said the facility had been fully operational, with about 200 people working to process and prepare grain for distribution.
In February, the mill's grain storage was closed for several weeks during clashes.
The rebels shelled the site, causing damage and preventing aid agencies from reaching the stores to distribute food.
Tonnes of grain rotted during the fighting, exacerbating the already dire situation.
“The assaults prove that the Houthi militia doesn’t care about the worsening humanitarian situation in the country and puts its interests ahead of the suffering of the Yemeni people,” Col Al Dubaish said.
Residents of the port city said that the last Houthi attack on the Red Sea Mills raised fears of food shortages.
“Nobody can feel our suffering," one resident said. "We mostly depend on the food aid we receive from the relief organisations and we were waiting for the WFP to distribute the wheat stock stored in the mills facility at the beginning of the new year.
“We were shocked to hear that the silos had broken down after the shelling. That means no wheat will be distributed and our situation will get worse and worse.”
Locals said the Houthis wanted to take the wheat so they could have “the lion’s share for their followers and sell a part of it on the black market".
The UN previously threatened to suspend aid shipments after accusing militias of confiscating and selling aid.
Yemen’s Information Minister, Moammar Al Eryani, condemned the attack in a statement on Twitter.
Mr Al Eryani said that it came just after UN-mediated talks aboard a ship off the coast of Hodeidah over the situation in the city and stationing joint observers to oversee a ceasefire.
“The attack confirms the Houthis' disavowal of their obligations and the continuing ceasefire violations that undermine the efforts to implement the Sweden agreement,” he said.
Last December, the government and rebels agreed to a ceasefire in the city.
They also agreed that rebels would withdraw and hand over control of the ports to local security.
The UN would then have overseen shipments of aid through the port.
But a year after the deal was signed, it has still not been fully enforced, although there has been a reduction in fighting.
The Houthi militia has increasingly attacked residential areas in the south of the city in recent weeks.
"On Saturday, local resident Dawood Mohammed Hasan was killed when a Houthi sniper shot him in front of his home in southern Hodeidah,” a source in Al Amalikah Brigades said.
'The Ice Road'
Director: Jonathan Hensleigh
Stars: Liam Neeson, Amber Midthunder, Laurence Fishburne
2/5
Stree
Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Movies
Director: Amar Kaushik
Cast: Rajkummar Rao, Shraddha Kapoor, Pankaj Tripathi, Aparshakti Khurana, Abhishek Banerjee
Rating: 3.5
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Racecard:
2.30pm: Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoun Emirates Breeders Society Challenge; Conditions (PA); Dh40,000; 1,600m
3pm: Handicap; Dh80,000; 1,800m
3.30pm: Jebel Ali Mile Prep Rated Conditions; Dh110,000; 1,600m
4pm: Handicap; Dh95,000; 1,950m
4.30pm: Maiden; Dh65,000; 1,400m
5pm: Handicap; Dh85,000; 1,200m
Why seagrass matters
- Carbon sink: Seagrass sequesters carbon up to 35X faster than tropical rainforests
- Marine nursery: Crucial habitat for juvenile fish, crustations, and invertebrates
- Biodiversity: Support species like sea turtles, dugongs, and seabirds
- Coastal protection: Reduce erosion and improve water quality
PRO BASH
Thursday’s fixtures
6pm: Hyderabad Nawabs v Pakhtoon Warriors
10pm: Lahore Sikandars v Pakhtoon Blasters
Teams
Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.
Squad rules
All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.
Tournament rules
The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.
Skoda Superb Specs
Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol
Power: 190hp
Torque: 320Nm
Price: From Dh147,000
Available: Now
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
The specs: 2018 Kia Picanto
Price: From Dh39,500
Engine: 1.2L inline four-cylinder
Transmission: Four-speed auto
Power: 86hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque: 122Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0L / 100km
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh12 million
Engine 8.0-litre quad-turbo, W16
Gearbox seven-speed dual clutch auto
Power 1479 @ 6,700rpm
Torque 1600Nm @ 2,000rpm 0-100kph: 2.6 seconds 0-200kph: 6.1 seconds
Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.4-litre%20V8%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E8-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E470bhp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E637Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDh375%2C900%20(estimate)%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Spec%20sheet
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
RESULT
Chelsea 2
Willian 13'
Ross Barkley 64'
Liverpool 0
Results:
Men's wheelchair 800m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 1.44.79; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 1.45.88; 3. Isaac Towers (GBR) 1.46.46.
Countries offering golden visas
UK
Innovator Founder Visa is aimed at those who can demonstrate relevant experience in business and sufficient investment funds to set up and scale up a new business in the UK. It offers permanent residence after three years.
Germany
Investing or establishing a business in Germany offers you a residence permit, which eventually leads to citizenship. The investment must meet an economic need and you have to have lived in Germany for five years to become a citizen.
Italy
The scheme is designed for foreign investors committed to making a significant contribution to the economy. Requires a minimum investment of €250,000 which can rise to €2 million.
Switzerland
Residence Programme offers residence to applicants and their families through economic contributions. The applicant must agree to pay an annual lump sum in tax.
Canada
Start-Up Visa Programme allows foreign entrepreneurs the opportunity to create a business in Canada and apply for permanent residence.
