Yemen War Leaves 16 Million Without Clean Water

Two-Thirds of the population of war-hit Yemen does not have access to clean water, the British-based relief agency Oxfam said in a statement on Tuesday.

"Ongoing air strikes, ground fighting and fuel shortages mean that an additional three million Yemenis are now without drinking water, raising the total number of Yemenis without a clean water supply and sanitation to at least 16 million," the Britain-based organization said.

The figure is equivalent to the total population in the European capitals of Berlin, London, Paris and Rome, Grace Ommer, the direct of Oxfam in Yemen, was quoted as saying in the statement.

The statement comes as the Saudi-led coalition of ten regional countries continues its airstrikes in the impoverished nation since the beginning of its operations in March.

Aid agencies have also warned of an outbreak of diseases, including malaria and cholera, among Yemenis, who are now forced to drink unsafe water.

The Saudi-led coalition aims to undermine the rebels control of the country and reinstall the Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, whom the Saudi kingdom and its allies see as the only legitimate leader.

The rebels took over the city last September and placed Hadi under house-arrest before he managed to flee the country.

The United Nations says that nearly 2,000 people have been killed and more than 7,300 injured due to the conflict in Yemen.

Meanwhile, the U.N chief Ban Ki-moon confirmed Tuesday that the U.N. peace talks have been postponed, after Yemen's ousted president Hadi said he wouldn't attend negotiations.

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