Iran has warned about the serious threat posed by famine and starvation, as a prelude to a humanitarian disaster, in Yemen, urging the international community to help prevent a new catastrophe.
"Continuation of war and bombardment as well as aerial and naval blockade in Yemen has pushed large numbers of the people of this country towards famine and hunger," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said on Monday, Press TV reported.
He pointed to the developments unfolding in Yemen and the deterioration of humanitarian situation in the war-stricken Arab country and said the Yemeni people are facing "very difficult" times.
He called on international organizations to double their efforts to dispatch humanitarian aid to Yemen given the outbreak of diseases, especially cholera, in the Arab world's poorest country.
The World Health Organization reported on May 23 a 50% increase in cholera cases in Yemen.
WHO announced that 35,217 cases had been recorded since April 27 when the outbreak started, saying the number showed a 50% leap in cases compared to figures released by the organization in the previous week. Cholera, which causes severe diarrhea and dehydration, is transmitted through contaminated drinking water and could prove fatal in up to 15% of untreated cases.
The spokesperson said there was no visible action to resume political talks in Yemen and urged the international community to encourage all political groups to the negotiating table.
"The Islamic Republic of Iran regards a political strategy through negotiations among all political sides in Yemen and the formation of a broad-based government as the only solution to the existing situation in that country," Qasemi noted. Saudi Arabia has been waging war on Yemen since 2015 to restore a former president who is friendly to Riyadh. The invasion, in which the US also provides assistance to Saudi Arabia, has killed thousands of civilians.
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