NEW YORK: The UN envoy to Yemen expressed concern at the Houthi militia鈥檚 militarization of ports in Hodeidah on Wednesday.

鈥淭he accusations of the militarization of the ports of Hodeidah are worrying and the threats of attacking them are equally disturbing given that these ports are a lifeline for many Yemenis,鈥� Hans Grundberg said at a UN Security Council meeting.

The UN Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement 鈥渋s closely monitoring the situation in the ports and has requested as part of its mandate to undertake an inspection,鈥� Grundberg added.

The Swedish diplomat added that the restriction on people and goods throughout Yemen is a challenge and is harming the population.

鈥淭he continued imposition of road closures and checkpoints across the country, as well as the impediments to imports and the domestic distribution of goods essential for civilians, including fuel, is harming the population in unjustifiable ways,鈥� Grundberg said.

The envoy also expressed concern about the Houthi seizure of the UAE-flagged ship and the continued detention of UN staff members in Sanaa and Marib.

鈥淭he UN should have immediate access to these staff and be provided with official information pertaining to the arrests,鈥� he said.

 India鈥檚 ambassador to the UN T. S. Tirumurti said that seven Indian nationals are part of the crew on Rwabee and that the country is 鈥渄eeply concerned for their wellbeing.鈥�

He demanded that the Houthis immediately release the crew and the vessel, and said the militia is responsible for the safety of the crew until they are released.

The US鈥� ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield also called on the Houthis to immediately release the UAE-flagged ship and crew unharmed.

Grundberg also condemned increased Houthi attacks on 萝莉视频 that have led to 鈥渃ivilian casualties and damages to civilian infrastructure.鈥�

Other participants in the meeting including the permanent representatives of the UAE, India, Norway, Yemen, and China to the UN condemned cross-border Houthi attacks on the Kingdom.

The Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen on Wednesday welcomed the UN鈥檚 decision to inspect the ports of Hodeidah to ensure that they are not being used militarily.

Hodeidah port is a landing station for foreign fighters and ballistic missiles, and the UN must ensure that foreign fighters do not enter the governorate and that weapons do not reach it, the coalition said.

The coalition warned that it would 鈥渁ct operationally for self-defense and for military necessity鈥� if the militarization of the ports continues.

Later on Wednesday, the UN Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement said it had spoken to crew members of Rwabee.

 鈥淎s part of its routine weekly patrol, (the UN Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement) visited Salif port and neighbouring areas this afternoon. The patrol team saw the RWABEE vessel from a distance and spoke to its crew members,鈥� the mission said on Twitter

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