Yemen’s Saudi-backed government pleads for coronavirus aid

Yemen’s Saudi-backed government accused its Houthi foes of covering up a big outbreak of coronavirus in areas they hold and the United Nations warned that the country could suffer a “catastrophic” food security situation due to the pandemic.

The Aden-based government also called for urgent global assistance to help Yemen’s war-ravaged health sector deal with the coronavirus.

The government has reported 128 infections and 20 deaths linked to the coronavirus across nine of Yemen’s 21 provinces. The Houthis, who hold most large population centres, have only announced four cases with one death, all in the capital Sanaa.