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UN Envoy in Yemen for 'Sternest' Talks as Famine Stalks
[An Nahar] The UN Yemen  ...an area of the Arabian Peninsula sometimes mistaken for a country. It is populated by more antagonistic tribes and factions than you can keep track of. Except for a tiny handfull of Jews everthing there is very Islamic...envoy faced his "sternest test" on Wednesday as he flew into the rebel-held capital Sanaa for talks on averting all-out fighting for the lifeline port of Hodeida and widespread famine. Under heavy Western pressure, the government and its Saudi-led military backers have largely suspended a five-month-old offensive on the Red Sea port city as UN envoy Martin Griffiths makes the biggest peace push in two years. But a devastating all-out assault on the city's vital docks still threatens as coalition commanders scent a potentially game-changing victory in their three-and-a-half year war on the Iran-backed Huthi Iranian catspaws. UN agencies say up to 14 million Yemenis are at risk of starvation if the port of Hodeida is closed by fighting or damage. The city is virtually the sole gateway to the capital and rebel-held territory in the densely populated highlands, and some 80 percent of commercial food imports and virtually all UN-supervised humanitarian aid  pass through its docks.Griffiths did not comment to waiting news hounds on his arrival at Sanaa International Airport, an AFP photographer reported. He was expected to hold afternoon talks with rebel politicians as he attempts to revive a grinding of the peace processor that collapsed in acrimony in Switzerland ...home of the Helvetians, famous for cheese, watches, yodeling, and William Tell... in September when the rebels failed to show up. The Huthis have said repeatedly that they need stronger security guarantees from the international community that they will be given safe passage through the crippling air and sea blockade the coalition has enforced since March 2015. Posted by: Fred 2018-11-22 |
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