The UN envoy for Yemen has arrived in Sanaa for crisis talks on the port city of Hudaida amid growing fears that fighting between a Saudi and Emirati-led coalition and Houthis will exacerbate a humanitarian crisis.

Martin Griffiths did not make any statement as he landed in the Yemeni capital on Saturday.

Griffiths's arrival came as fighting intensified around Hudaida's airport amid conflicting claims over its fate.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the Yemeni Houthis  struck a Saudi-US warship near the port city of  Hodeidah in a retaliatory attack.

But according to aid groups in Hodeidah,  fighting had not  yet reached the main part of the city, although the sound of shelling was getting closer and people were staying indoors. 

According to aid and relief agencies, the port was still open for ships delivering aid. On Wednesday,  four vessels filled with food and fuel were at berth in the port, and five vessels at anchorage, down from seven vessels and 15 vessels respectively at the same time last month.

The port has not yet been declared a zone for military conflict, a step that would cause the port’s closure to commercial traffic.

Meanwhile, an emergency  UN security council meeting has been convened to discuss the Saudi / UAE offensive on Hodeidah.   

Russia and some EU countries are trying to persuade members of the security council to  agree to a statement condemning the attack on Hodeidah.

The Russian foreign ministry said an assault on the port would be a disaster for Yemen, and would halt the peace process designed to end the three-year conflict in Yemen.