Yemen: Norwegian Refugee Council warns of millions edging towards famine

Jan Egeland of the Norwegian Refugee Council said late Monday "the past 12 months have been a never-ending nightmare for Yemeni civilians."

The Norwegian Refugee Council says millions of Yemenis are edging closer to famine and fatal disease one year after a Saudi-led coalition imposed a blockade on sea, land and air routes in the Arab world's poorest country.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels had restricted access to Yemen in November last year after a missile assault by rebels targeted the Saudi capital, Riyadh.

Jan Egeland of the Norwegian Refugee Council said late Monday "the past 12 months have been a never-ending nightmare for Yemeni civilians."

The Saudi-led coalition has been at war with the Houthi rebels since March 2015 in a stalemated conflict that has generated the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

The charity says the war has left 12 million people at imminent risk of descending into famine.

(With inputs from agencies.)