Saudi Arabia pledges $274m in aid for Yemen

Saudi Arabia pledged Saturday 274 million U.S. dollars in aid to conflict-hit Yemen, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The Saudi donation came in response to a United Nations appeal on Friday to provide emergency assistance to millions of afflicted people in Yemen.

The Kingdom is leading a military operation in Yemen to thwart the Iran-backed Houthi group's bid to seize power from President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi who was forced to fled abroad.

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) announced this week that it will, along with partners, reach some 105,000 displaced people in Yemen's main southern city of Aden, while warning that with millions in need amid the deepening crisis, its supplies are now running low.

"We appeal to all warring parties to the conflict to allow us to replenish our food and fuel stocks to save lives," said Purnima Kashyap, WFP Representative and Yemen Country Director, in a statement to the press.

Two weeks of escalating violence have left many Yemenis hungry and trapped inside their cities and villages with food stocks running low.

There are also severe fuel shortages, especially in Aden and areas of the capital Sanaa.