UNHCR's aid airlift arrives safely in Yemen

The first of six UNHCR airplanes bringing urgently needed aid supplies landed safely in Yemen Friday boosting relief stocks in the war-ravaged country, on the third day of the temporary humanitarian pause, read a statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The plane carrying blankets, kitchen utensils and sleeping mats from stockpiles in Dubai arrived at Sana'a International Airport at 15:45 local time, the statement said.

A second aircraft is expected to arrive later this afternoon. Four more flights will follow over the next two days, provided local security conditions allow.

Together, the six flights will bring in 150 metric tons of relief supplies into Sana'a, while more aid is on its way via Djibouti by sea – part of a larger aid effort underway for 250,000 people, the statement said.

Apart from some localized skirmishes, the humanitarian pause, which officially started at 11pm on 12 May, has largely held – opening up roads, markets and supply routes to UNHCR and its partners.