A SHIPLEY charity sent its third container of supplies to war-torn Yemen last week and is now collecting for a fourth.

Jubilee Outreach Yorkshire (JOY) has been shipping containers of food, clothing and medical supplies to the country, which has been at war since 2015, with its third container being sent out on 16 January.

The charity - which will celebrate its 30th anniversary in June - says that the first container it shipped to the country, last year, benefitted around 1,500 people.

Dr. Kathy Tedd, of JOY, said, “There are millions of victims in Yemen, who have been bombed and injured.

“There is limited access to clean water which has led to cholera outbreaks. The tragic war has caused the worst humanitarian disaster in the world for a century, leaving over 22 million people at risk of starvation. 11 million of these are children, which is more than the population of Switzerland.”

JOY is appealing for donations from the public, for its fourth container: “We are in desperate need of blankets, food, vitamins and sanitary products. If people would like to donate, they are welcome to come to our shop on Westgate, Shipley or on Main Street, Bingley.

“JOY will soon be sending another 40-foot container to Yemen with about 15 tonnes of vital medical aid, water filters and artificial limbs. JOY has trusted partners who are distributing the aid and helping as much as they can.”

On its website, joyworld.org.uk, the charity also says that items in high demand include wheelchairs, walking frames, incontinence pads, food, medicinal items and educational items such as books and pens.

Dr. Tedd explains how JOY is a “Very small charity”, founded in 1990, which is run by volunteers. She says the charity started out by working with orphans in Romania and has since supported those in need in over 30 countries worldwide, from Europe to South America and from Asia to Africa.

The conflict in Yemen has its roots in the 2011 Arab Spring, when the country’s president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, was ousted after an uprising.

This created a scramble for power in the country, which led Houthi rebels to engage in conflict with the new president’s government.

Fighting escalated in 2015 when Saudi Arabia, backed by the UK, began air strikes against the Houthis.

Human Rights Watch say some of the airstrikes have been unlawful and claim that they could amount to war crimes. It cites an instance where a bus of school children was bombed as an example of this, while Amnesty International also claim that there have been human rights violations by both sides in the conflict.

UNICEF claim that 24 million people - 80 per cent of the country’s population - are in need of humanitarian assistance, with this number including more than 12 million children.

A blockade imposed on Yemen by the Saudi-led coalition has also placed restrictions on the amount of food and aid that is coming into the country.

Dr. Tedd explains, “Donations can be left with either JOY shop (6 Westgate, Shipley or 89 Main Street, Bingley) or at our warehouse at 14 Jubilee Way, Windhill.”

“If there isn’t anyone available in the JOY warehouse, then the neighbouring warehouses will accept goods for us.”