UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Amid reports of armed conflict in the streets of Yemen's major port city of Aden, a UN spokesman said on Monday that while there is concern about the clashes and closing of the airport all of its staff members are "safe and accounted for"
"We have been concerned about the situation," Farhan Haq, deputy chief UN spokesman told reporters at UN Headquarters. "We have been calling on all sides to respect international humanitarian and Human rights law. We continue to monitor the security situation in Yemen including in Aden and the impact on the humanitarian situation."
"While there are reports of armed clashes in Aden, all UN Staff are safe and accounted for," he said "Aden airport has been closed. We call on all parties to end the fighting and engage in constructive dialogue to resolve their concerns."
"Ports are in use," Haq said. "They are continuing to get (humanitarian shipping) traffic. But the amounts going in are not nearly enough. We continue to urge all parties to allow for a greater and more sustained access" for humanitarian goods.
A civil war has been raging in Yemen since 2015 pitting Iran-supported rebels against Saudi Arabia-backed forces supporting the internationally-recognized President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi who set up government in Aden after rebels took control of the capital Sanaa.
