US President Donald Trump on Wednesday made the rare step of publicly demanding that ally Saudi Arabia immediately allow vital humanitarian supplies to reach war-ravaged Yemen.
Trump stopped short of calling for a pause in Saudi-led bombing of the country, which is home to what the UN calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
But, in a statement, Trump said he had asked aides to contact the Saudi leadership and "to request that they completely allow food, fuel, water, and medicine to reach the Yemeni people who desperately need it."
"This must be done for humanitarian reasons immediately."
Saudi Arabia and its allies have launched a campaign to oust Houthi rebels who control the capital Sanaa and who have links to Riyadh's arch foe Iran.
Seven million people are believed to be on the brink of famine and a cholera outbreak has caused more than 2,000 deaths.
Riyadh has imposed a blockade on Yemen's ports after a Houthi missile was intercepted near Riyadh airport on November 4.
Short link: