WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Tuesday after World Food Programme cranes were delivered to Hudaydah, Yemen, to support humanitarian relief: 

“I welcome the delivery of the U.S.-funded World Food Programme’s mobile cranes to the port of Hudaydah, which will significantly increase the port’s capacity to offload essential humanitarian and commercial goods, including food and medicine.  These cranes are an important step in addressing the dire humanitarian situation facing Yemen.  I applaud the dedicated USAID staff for their tireless efforts to move these cranes, and commend the Saudi-led coalition for its support in getting the cranes to port. 

“Installation of these cranes are an important and necessary step.  But cranes will not solve the humanitarian crisis facing more than 22 million Yemenis suffering from the world’s largest food-security emergency and a cholera outbreak.  I urge all stakeholders in this conflict to allow unhindered delivery of commercial and humanitarian goods, including food, medicine and fuel. 

“Even more urgent is a re-energized political process to end the conflict.  The Trump Administration must now commit to the diplomacy and international coordination required to bring stakeholders to the negotiating table for a sustainable end to this conflict.”