UN envoy, Yemeni officials meet to discuss peace efforts in war-torn Yemen

The United Nations (UN) Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg concluded Wednesday a visit to Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh, where he met with Yemeni and Saudi officials to discuss efforts toward political settlement of Yemen's civil conflict.
In a brief press statement, the UN envoy said he had held talks with Rashad Al-Alimi, the chairman of Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council, and other senior Yemeni officials in Riyadh.
He said their discussions focused on ending the conflict through inclusive intra-Yemeni political consultations and improving deteriorating humanitarian conditions across the Arab country.
When meeting with Yemeni Foreign Minister Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak and Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohamed Al Jaber, the three sides agreed on the importance of maintaining constructive engagement between conflicting parties to reach an inclusive political settlement, according to the statement.
The UN-led talks come as Yemen's civil war continues to fuel the world's worst humanitarian crisis, pushing the country to the brink of famine and economic collapse.
Grundberg's visit comes amid renewed efforts to broker a nationwide cease-fire and eventually reach a political solution after years of fighting that has caused widespread suffering among civilians in Yemen.
Yemen has been embroiled in a devastating civil war since 2014, with the Houthis fighting against the internationally-recognized Yemeni government. The Saudi Arabia-led coalition intervened in the conflict in support of the Yemeni government in 2015.
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