Yemenis gather near UN office to protest Saudi seizure of oil ships

Yemenis have staged a demonstration in front of the United Nations office in Sana’a to slam the Saudi Arabia’s continued detention of seven Yemeni oil ships.

A number of health workers were also among the protesters. The Ministry of Health said the healthcare system is on the verge of collapse as many health facilities cannot provide medical services due to the ongoing Saudi blockade.

For years now, Yemenis have been suffering from a harsh fuel shortage as Saudi Arabia keeps detaining Yemeni oil vessels despite obtaining entry permits by the UN. The fuel crisis has heavily affected the health sector and left the war-wracked country in a desperate struggle to survive.

The protesters say the illegal seizure of Yemen’s oil ships is a clear violation of international law that prohibits all acts of piracy. They say it is a shame on the United Nations to turn a blind eye to the years-long blockade imposed by Saudi Arabia and its allies on Yemen.