The Red Cross has called for an immediate 24-hour ceasefire in Yemen to allow for the evacuation of the wounded.

Despite gaining Saudi approval for the delivery of 48 tons of medical supplies, the organisation has so far been unable to arrange a flight.

Fighting has intensified in the area in recent weeks between Houiti militants and Shi'ite rebels, and now centres around the port of Aden.

Reuters reports that foreign warships have been firing on Houthi positions around the city as a Saudi-led bombing campaign enters its twelfth day.

However Houthi soldiers remain on the verge of capturing the port city of Aden, which is the last stronghold of Saudi-backed president Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

More than 500 people have died during fighting in the past two weeks.