Vastavam web: The United Nations is trying to evacuate at least 140 aid workers from the Yemeni capital amid fighting that has cut off the airport road but it awaits approval from the Saudi-led coalition, U.N. and other aid officials said on Sunday.It was the fourth day of clashes in which dozens have been killed, the Red Cross said.
"There is a plane on stand-by in Djibouti for 140 international staff," a U.N. official in Sanaa told Reuters. About half were from non-governmental organisations, he said."Fighting is moving towards the airport and the situation is very tense. We can't even evacuate staff," he said.Shells were falling near the UN compound in Sanaa on Siteen Street on Sunday, with one source on the scene saying stray bullets had hit the compound. The compound is empty as staff had been told to stay home and not report to work for days.
Another aid worker from an independent agency in Yemen, who declined to be identified, told Reuters: "The U.N. is planning a reduction of staff for U.N. agencies and some NGOs."There was no immediate reply from the United Nations to Reuters queries seeking confirmation of the reports.