Yemen ‘one air-strike away’ from cholera epidemic

The UN has warned that heavy fighting around Yemen’s main port – which is in the hands of the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels – is just “one airstrike away from an unstoppable” cholera epidemic.

The main entry point for food and other supplies into the country is the port city of al-Hodeida. It is under renewed attack by government forces, backed by Saudi Arabian air power, trying to force Houthi rebels out of the area.

The UN says there are 22 million people in Yemen who are are in need of humanitarian assistance, with more than 8 million facing starvation.