SANA, Yemen — A World Food Program ship carrying badly needed aid arrived in Yemen’s war-torn southern city of Aden on Tuesday, the first vessel chartered by the UN agency to be able to berth there since Saudi-led airstrikes on Shi’ite rebels in the country began in March.
In a statement, the food program said the ship carries 3,300 tons of food for people in contested southern areas.
‘‘This is a major breakthrough for our humanitarian response,’’ said Muhannad Hadi, the group’s regional director. ‘‘While we have been able to reach several southern areas by land, docking at the port of Aden allows us to accelerate our response to meet urgent needs.’’
The group had tried repeatedly to send ships to Aden, but all had been previously blocked by fighting in the port area.
The last road delivery arrived in July 14 for around 27,000 people. The new shipment can feed up to 180,000 people, and more vessels carrying much-needed fuel and food are planned in the coming days.
Coordination is needed with the Saudi-led coalition, which has imposed a sea and air blockade on Yemen since it began its airstrikes.
The fighting in Yemen pits the Houthis and troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh against southern separatists, Sunni militants, and loyalists of exiled President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who is now based in Saudi Arabia.
The rebels seized Sana in September. Fierce fighting in Aden broke out in March, sparking the Saudi-led airstrikes. More than 1,690 civilians have been killed since then, the United Nations said Tuesday.
On the ground, fighting continues. Security officials and witnesses said that battles just east of Aden killed some 20 rebels and about 10 of their adversaries. Coalition aircraft launched dozens of raids north of the city, destroying tanks and Katyusha rocket launchers.
Operations to push the rebels from Aden continued Tuesday, the officials said, with missiles, ground forces, and airstrikes hitting rebel sites.