Aden, Dec 15 (AFP) Saudi-led air strikes have killed 28Huthi rebels south of the port of Hodeida on Yemen's westcoast, medics and security sources close to the insurgentssaid today.
The reports came as the UN refugee agency UNHCR warned ofa new displacement of civilians in the area.
The security sources said the air strikes yesterday andtoday hit five towns controlled by the Huthis around 70kilometres (45 miles) south of Hodeida.
Medical sources said 28 Huthis were killed and 17 otherswounded in the strikes.
There has been no let-up in the air campaign against therebels that a Saudi-led coalition has been waging since March2015.
The air strikes have intensified since the December 4killing of ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh at the hands of theHuthis after his alliance with the rebels collapsed.
At the same time forces of the Saudi-backed Yemenigovernment have stepped up attacks on the rebels and last weekretook the Red Sea town of Khokha from the Huthis.
The security sources said new clashes broke out today asgovernment forces tried to push towards Hodeida.
UNHCR said it was "bracing for further displacement and aspike in humanitarian needs as hostilities intensify infrontline areas on Yemen's west coast".
Hodeida is the main conduit for UN-supervised deliveriesof food and medicine but the rebel-held port is controlled bythe Huthis and remains closed, forcing the UN to divert aidsupplies to other areas.
"To date we have deployed emergency relief items for2,000 families in Hodeida, and a further 2,000 aid kits are ontheir way along with 2,000 emergency shelter kits," the UNHCRsaid in a statement.
"As the port of Hodeida remains closed an additional 43containers with emergency, shelter and household aid,including plastic tarpaulins and blankets for more than 20,000families, had to be diverted to Aden," it added.
More than 2,000 people have died of cholera in Yemen thisyear, adding to the 8,600 killed in the conflict between theSaudi-backed government and rebels since 2015. (AFP)MRJ.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.