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  World   Middle East  06 Jul 2018  UN calls for 'all parties' to find political solution for Yemen

UN calls for 'all parties' to find political solution for Yemen

AFP
Published : Jul 6, 2018, 8:50 am IST
Updated : Jul 6, 2018, 8:50 am IST

The UN also repeated a call for the key port of Hodeida to remain open.

Members 'reaffirmed that a political solution remains the only way to end the conflict,' the Security Council said in a statement. (Photo: File)
 Members 'reaffirmed that a political solution remains the only way to end the conflict,' the Security Council said in a statement. (Photo: File)

United Nations: The United Nations Security Council said on Friday that "all parties" should work toward a political solution for Yemen, and repeated a call for the key port of Hodeida to remain open.

The statements came after UN envoy Martin Griffiths updated the Security Council via a video link from the region. Members "reaffirmed their unequivocal support for the efforts of the special envoy, and encouraged all parties to engage constructively with his efforts to progress a political solution," the Security Council said in a statement.

They also "reaffirmed that a political solution remains the only way to end the conflict," the statement added. The Security Council said it recognized the importance of the ports of Hodeida and Saleef, and reiterated a call for these to be kept open.

Rebel-held Hodeida, whose port operations could eventually be overseen by the UN, has recently been the target of a government offensive backed by a Saudi-led Arab coalition that includes the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE said Sunday it had halted the offensive to give a chance to UN diplomatic efforts. Hodeida port is the entry point for some 70 percent of imports to Yemen, where eight million people face imminent famine, and provides a lifeline for the 22 million Yemenis dependent on humanitarian aid.

Griffiths said Wednesday he had held "fruitful" talks with rebel leader Abdulmalik al-Huthi in his bid to avert all-out fighting for the strategic port city of Hodeida.

Hodeida is the latest battleground in the Yemeni conflict, which has killed nearly 10,000 people since 2015, 2,200 of them children.

Tags: united nations security council, yemen, hodeida