Russia to send planes with food supplies to Yemen soon

Russia plans to send aircraft of the Emergencies Ministry with food supplies to Sana'a for Yemen’s citizens in the coming days, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

"In the coming days, there are plans to send food supplies for civilians to Sana’a by the planes of the Emergencies Ministry," it said.

"We urge all the sides to assist ensuring unhampered delivery of the Russian aid, its distribution among the affected civilians of the country," the ministry said.

The Russian side believes it is important to "make its contribution to easing the humanitarian situation in Yemen," it stressed.

Moscow welcomes the reports that the conflicting Yemeni sides have agreed to announce a humanitarian truce starting from Friday until the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on July 17.

The ministry stressed that this is a very important step towards "easing the sufferings" of the civilians in the country.

The truce comes without preconditions and opens the possibilities for supplies to Yemen of humanitarian cargos, namely foodstuffs and medicines, sought by more than 80% of citizens, according to the UN.

"It is of principal importance that all the sides fully and without exception observe the ceasefire regime, ensure its stability and maintenance including beyond the announced timeframe," the ministry said.

Russia assumes that all the necessary conditions are being created to continue the efforts under the UN auspices on establishing an inclusive political process with the goal of halting the bloodshed and violence and achieving peaceful settlement in the interests of all Yemenis, the ministry said.

According to the UN, around 3,000 people have died and one million others have been displaced since the hostilities began in Yemen in March. More than 21 million Yemenis or 80% of the country’s citizens are in need of humanitarian aid.