Aid flights to Yemen held back

Aid flights to Yemen are being held back by "logistical problems", as violence in the country continues.

Saudi air strikes have been targeting Houthi rebels for almost two weeks.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was given permission to land planes carrying staff and medical supplies, by a Saudi-led coalition on Saturday.

But the flights have been unable to depart, according to ICRC spokeswoman Claire Feghali.

The UN says more than 500 people have been killed, as the Houthis battle forces loyal to beleaguered President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi.

"We are still working on getting the plane to Sanaa. It's a bit difficult with the logistics because there are not that many companies or cargo planes willing to fly into a conflict zone," Ms Feghali told Reuters.

However, she insisted she had "high hopes" that 48 tonnes of medical supplies would be delivered by "tomorrow or the day after".

The Houthis say their aim is to replace President Hadi's government

Yemen: who is fighting whom?

The Houthis: Zaidi Shia-led rebels from the north, who seized control of Sanaa last year and have since been expanding their control

President Hadi: Fled to Saudi Arabia after rebel forces advanced on his stronghold in the southern city of Aden

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula: Seen by the US as the most dangerous offshoot of al-Qaeda, AQAP opposes both the Houthis and President Hadi.

Islamic State: A Yemeni affiliate of IS has recently emerged, which seeks to eclipse AQAP

Failure 'not an option for Saudis'

Yemen crisis: An Iranian-Saudi battleground?

Meeting the Houthis - and their enemies

The rise of Yemen's Houthi rebels

Desperate for help

The Red Cross is also trying to deploy a team of surgeons to the battle-torn city of Aden, but said that "authorisations from all the parties involved" were necessary before this could happen.

The ICRC spent a week negotiating with the Saudi-led coalition over deliveries of supplies.

It has called for a 24-hour ceasefire in Aden, while Russia has also urged the UN Security Council to support a "humanitarian pause" in the air strikes.

Explosions on Monday shook homes in the suburbs of Aden, one of President Hadi's last strongholds.

At least 53 people died in 24 hours of clashes between rebels and pro-government fighters, AFP reports.

Food, water and electricity shortages have also mounted, with residents pleading for help to feed their families.

Student Nisman Usman said: "We have lived three days of horrors - gunshots everywhere."

Saudi Arabia has reportedly been dropping weapons to President Hadi's supporters

Media review: BBC monitoring

Arab views of the fight for Aden range from pro-Saudi optimism to fears of other players being dragged in.

Saudi and Gulf media report that the "shell-shocked" Houthis are seeking ceasefire talks in the face of the Saudi aerial bombardment. Bahrain's Akhbar al-Khalij daily and the Emirates' Al-Bayan accuse the Houthis of "indiscriminate shelling" of Aden residential areas.

But Arab papers elsewhere are less sanguine. Jordan's al-Ghad and Lebanon's leftist al-Safir say the Saudis have failed to halt the Houthis' advance on Aden, a development that pro-Saudi media ignore.

Pan-Arab TV channels report the fighting could draw in other players from Pakistan to Iraqi Shia militias.

Iranian media maintain their anti-Saudi stance, with official TV channels highlighting the civilian casualties of Saudi air raids and protests in various countries against Saudi policy.

A political consultant in Sanaa, Hisham al-Omeisy, told the BBC that he was sceptical that the Red Cross aid flight would go ahead.

"The Saudi coalition announced this several times before, that they will allow the ICRC to come into the airport but that hasn't actually taken place," he said.

"So for us, the residents in Sanaa, we'll believe it when we see it. We need fuel, we need food, we need a lot of different stuff, not just drugs and two flights is not going to do it."

Meanwhile, Pakistan's parliament is holding a special session to debate whether to join the Saudis and their allies.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, said the Saudis had asked for warships, aircraft and soldiers.

Pakistani aircraft rescued 170 people from Sanaa on Sunday. Countries including China and Egypt are planning evacuation flights, while Russia and India have already airlifted many of their nationals out of the country.

Hundreds have died in the fighting so far

President Hadi was forced to flee Yemen two weeks ago, as the rebels advanced on Aden.

The Houthis have said their aim is to replace his government, which they accuse of being corrupt.

They are supported by troops loyal to the former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who was ousted in the Arab Spring protests.

Saudi Arabia says the Houthis have military backing from regional rival Iran, which denies the allegation.

Are you in Yemen? Are you affected by the situation there? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.

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