Yemen: Houthi rebels refuse peace talks in Riyadh
A Shia Houthi militia fighter in Sanaa, capital of Yemen.
REUTERS/Mohamed al-Sayaghi
Text by: RFI Follow
3 mins
The Houthi rebels will not participate in any peace talks if they are held in Riyadh because Saudi Arabia, leader of the opposing coalition, is the "
enemy
" in the war in Yemen.
This was said on Thursday by a Houthi official.
At the same time, a donors' conference organized by the UN on Wednesday only raised $1.3 billion out of the $4.3 billion needed to deal with the worsening situation in the country.
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On Tuesday March 14, an official from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) told AFP that this regional organization was seeking to organize a dialogue in Riyadh, its headquarters, between the Yemeni government and the Houthi rebels to try to put an end to the conflict that has ravaged Yemen for more than seven years.
►Also read
: France will help the Emirates secure their airspace against the Houthis
“
We will accept any invitation to dialogue that does not take place in enemy countries
,” a Houthi official said on condition of anonymity, assuring that the rebels would “
always reach out for peace
”.
$1.3 billion raised
At the same time, a donors' conference organized by the UN on Wednesday raised only $1.3 billion of the $4.3 billion needed to deal with the worsening situation in the country, on the brink of a large-scale famine. "
We are disappointed not to have been able for the moment to garner pledges of donations from some (countries) which we hoped they would
," said the deputy secretary general of the for Humanitarian Affairs, Martin Griffiths.
I am pleased to announce that today 36 donors pledged nearly $1.3 billion for the humanitarian response in #Yemen.
We thank you for the generosity and continued support for millions of people in need.
#InvestInHumanity.
pic.twitter.com/MCiAHbOQ5Q
— Martin Griffiths (@UNReliefChief) March 16, 2022
Martin Griffiths promised to redouble his efforts to try - through other appeals in the coming months - to raise the necessary funds for this country.
The UN had called on donor countries, many of whom are focused on the war in Ukraine, not to forget Yemen.
“
Yemen may not be in the headlines anymore, but the human suffering has not diminished.
(…) Today, the lack of funds risks leading to a catastrophe
, ”warned UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres at the opening of the virtual conference.
“
Millions of people are facing extreme hunger, and the World Food Program has had to cut rations in half due to lack of funds.
Further reductions are imminent.
»
Among the worst humanitarian situations in the world
"
The humanitarian situation in Yemen is among the worst in the world
," said Martin Griffiths.
This situation is likely to worsen as the uncertainty linked to the conflict in Ukraine has pushed world grain markets to new heights.
And about a third of the wheat used in Yemen comes from Russia and Ukraine, according to Martin Griffiths.
The UN's appeal is all the more urgent as the funds available to humanitarian organizations are drying up.
Yemen, the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula, has been facing a devastating war since 2014, pitting the Iran-backed Houthis against the government, backed by a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia and including the Arab Emirates United are a key player.
According to the UN, the war has caused the death of nearly 380,000 people and caused one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.
Diplomatic efforts carried out for years under the aegis of the UN to bring the two parties to conclude a peace agreement have not succeeded.
(
With
AFP)
►Also read: Yemen: ten thousand children killed or injured since the start of the war, according to the UN
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