BREAKING: Yemen's Aden Declared Infested City

Moments ago, Yemen’s emergency coronavirus committee declared Aden, the seat to Yemen’s internationally recognized government, an infested city after coronavirus cases there jumped to 35, including four fatalities.

The committee also announced on twitter that the decision came after the spread of several diseases in the city due to the torrential rains that hit it recently.

Earlier yesterday, the committee reported 17 new coronavirus cases and one death, raising the total number of infections to 51 and total fatalities to eight. The committee said on twitter there are 10 new cases in Aden, three in Hadhramaut, two in Lahaj and two in Taiz.

On another hand, the World Health Organization (WHO) has suspended staff activity at its hubs in areas of Yemen held by the Iranian-backed Houthis, aiming to pressure the group to be more transparent about suspected coronavirus cases.

In the war-torn Yemen, the government has so far reported more then 50 cases of COVID-19 in territory it controls, while the Iranian-backed militia, which holds most large urban centers, has recorded just two cases with one death.

The WHO directive issued late on Saturday, and seen by Reuters, notified staff in Sanaa, the Red Sea port of Hodeidah, the northern province of Saada and central province of Ibb that “all movements, meetings or any other activity” for staff in those areas were paused until further notice.

The WHO has temporarily paused its movements in northern areas due to “credible threats and perceived risks which could have an impact on staff security,” it said in response to a Reuters’ query, adding that operations have not been suspended.

Yemen's Donor Conference

In political context, Saudi Arabia will host Yemen’s Donors Conference on June 2, with the participation of the UN.

The virtual humanitarian conference will be organised by the King Salman Relief Centre, in line with the directives of King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.

The kingdom’s call for the conference is an extension of its humanitarian and development contribution globally and in Yemen in particular, where the kingdom is the first donor to Yemen.