Saudi Arabia to reopen Yemen’s air and seaports within next 24 hours

The Saudi ambassador to the United Nations on Monday said that his country is preparing to reopen all air and sea ports in areas controlled by the Yemeni government "within the next 24 hours."

Abdallah Al-Mouallimi said the reopening of the ports was for the "safe transfer of humanitarian actors and humanitarian and commercial shipments" into Yemen.

He added that Saudi Arabia was looking to work with the UN to ensure the ports are safely reopened.

"We would like to confirm that steps are being taken by the coalition, in full consultation and agreement with the government of Yemen, to start the process of reopening airports and seaports in Yemen to allow for the safe transfer of humanitarian actors and humanitarian and commercial shipments.

“The first step in this process will be taken within the next 24 hours and will include and involve the reopening of all ports and airports in areas controlled by the government of Yemen.

He added: “We believe that there should be a more robust verification mechanism in Hodeidah port and we want to work with the United Nations. Now the United Nations is concerned about cost, about liability, about issues of that sort, but we are concerned about the safety of our own people because what has changed, if anything, is that there has been a missile attack against the city of Riyadh."