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UNITED NATIONS, June 17-- The head of the World Food Programme (WFP) on Monday lashed out at Houthi rebels in Yemen for misappropriating aid supplies. "Today, I am sad to report that the World Food Programme is being prevented from feeding the hungriest people in Yemen. Food assistance provided by the United Nations is being diverted in areas controlled by Ansar Allah at the expense of hungry children, women and men," David Beasley told the United Nations Security Council, using the formal name of the Houthi rebels. "The humanitarian situation in Yemen is dire. And despite the immense suffering of the 20 million Yemenis who do not have enough to eat, we continue to face fierce resistance to simply just do our job to keep people alive," he said. Beasley said the Houthi rebels have repeatedly refused to allow the WFP to operate independently, which is a necessary condition to ensure that aid reaches the people in real need. "No matter where we operate, we must be able to operate independently so that we can identify and verify those who need assistance. And we have to put in place monitoring systems to ensure that those people truly get the food they need." These systems help ensure that others cannot deprive people of the food they deserve to stay alive, and that the food does not support political agendas, he said. "We are now feeding more than 10 million people a month. But as the head of the World Food Programme, I cannot assure you that all the assistance is going to those who need it the most. Why? Because we are not allowed to operate independently, and because aid is being diverted for profit and/or other purposes." | 
