Aden (South24)

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On Thursday, the US special envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking, said that Washington "recognize the Houthi as a legitimate actor in Yemen". 

Lenderking has also called the international community to "pressure the Houthis to terminate their offensive operations towards Marib".

In regards to the situation in South Yemen, Lenderking said that the engagement in the Riyadh Agreement – signed by the STC and the President Hadi's government – is "encouraging and can contribute to the return of the government to Aden".                                      

The US Special Envoy to Yemen told a webinar sponsored by the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations that humanitarian programs for Yemen will begin to close unless contributions increase in the next few months. 

Six years of war have killed tens of thousands of Yemenis, mostly civilians, and left millions on the brink of famine. Around 80% of Yemen's population, or 24 million people, rely on humanitarian relief to survive. 

The World Food Programme in April 2020 halved food aid to deliveries every other month in parts of Yemen controlled by the Houthi movement after donors cut funding, partly over concerns about obstruction of aid.

More funds have started flowing since U.N. officials said in April that Yemen could suffer the world's worst famine in decades as violence escalated amid the COVID-19 pandemic. read more

Sarah Charles, a senior official with the U.S. Agency for International Development, echoed Lenderking's warning.

"We commend the generous pledges made by other generous donors so far this year," she said, noting that the United States will provide more funds on top of $350 million allocated this year. "The fact is that more funding is required to address growing needs."

Humanitarian Crisis

David Gressly, a United Nations official resident in Yemen, said governments have yet to fulfill pledges made earlier this year totaling $2.1 billion to help address the dire humanitarian crisis caused by the Yemen war.

He also said humanitarian organizations are having problems reaching some 6 million Yemenis.

Gressly said as many as 300 migrants may have died after a ship capsized recently off Yemen's coast, highlighting the risks of a longstanding migration route from the Horn of Africa to the rich Gulf states in search of work.

Gressly did not give details but he appeared to be referring to an incident when number of bodies washed up at Ras al-Arah on Yemen’s Red Sea coast earlier this month after a migrant boat sank offshore. read more

The migrant crisis is adding more pressure on the already dire humanitarian situation in Yemen, he added.

Lenderking expressed hope for a ceasefire between the Saudi-led coalition and the Iran-aligned Houthis to alleviate the crisis.

"My experience from the Houthis is that they have spoken about a commitment towards peace in Yemen.... We continue to engage with them," Lenderking said.

"The United States recognises them as a legitimate actor, we recognise them as a group that has made significant gains. No one can wish for them (to be) away or out of the conflict, so let's deal with realities that exist on the ground," he added.

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Source: Reuters, Agencies

Photo: AP/ANDREW HARNIK