More than 130 children are dying each day from extreme hunger and disease as the civil war rages in Yemen, according to a charity.

Save the Children says more than 50,000 youngsters are believed to have already lost their lives so far this year.

The organisation has said a blockade by the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels will almost certainly make things worse.

The alliance stopped all air, land, and sea access to Yemen more than a week ago after a rebel missile attack near the Saudi capital Riyadh.

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The coalition said it closed the ports and borders to stop the flow of arms from Iran to the Houthis.


It comes as three agencies said thousands of civilians will die, including many children, unless the blockade which has "choked off" aid supplies is fully lifted.

The World Health Organisation, UNICEF and the World Food Programme said seven million people are on the brink of famine.

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Unless all ports are reopened, that number could rise by 3.2 million, they warned.

The agencies said in a statement: "Together, we issue another urgent appeal for the coalition to permit entry of lifesaving supplies to Yemen in response to what is now the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.

"The supplies, which include medicines, vaccines and food, are essential to staving off disease and starvation. Without them, untold thousands of innocent victims, among them many children, will die."

More than 10,000 people have been killed in the conflict since March 2015 and three million have been displaced.

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The coalition has carried out bombings targeting rebels but civilians have also been among the casualties.

It has partially eased some restrictions on ports controlled by the Yemeni government, which is Saudi Arabia's ally.

But rebel-held entry points, including the crucial Red Sea port of Hodeidah, remain shut.

UNICEF said: "Without fuel, the vaccine cold chain, water supply systems and waste water treatment plants will stop functioning.

"And without food and safe water, the threat of famine grows by the day."

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The coalition intervened in Yemen two and a half years ago to try to oust the Houthi rebels who control the capital Sanaa, and restore President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi's government to power.