In conversation with Yemeni Prez, Ban expresses concern about uptick in fighting

“The Secretary-General expressed his concern about the escalation of fighting on the ground and air strikes since the end of the humanitarian pause, and reiterated his firm belief that there is no military solution to the conflict,” the UN spokesperson's office said in areadout of Ban's exchange with Yemeni President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi Mansour.

The violence in the Gulf state continues to rumble on amid a worsening humanitarian crisis and despite wider UN-backed attempts to facilitate dialogue among national and regional stakeholders.

Just on Wednesday, the UN's health agency, the World Health Organization (WHO), confirmed that as Yemen enters its tenth week of conflict, nearly 2,000 people have been killed and 8,000 injured so far.

Meanwhile, political consultations originally scheduled for today in Geneva have been delayed until further notice.

In his telephone conversation with for President Hadi, the Secretary-General recalled that he had asked his Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, “to redouble his efforts” to consult with the Yemeni Government, Yemen's political groupings and countries in the region “with the aim of convening the Yemeni consultations in Geneva at the earliest possible opportunity.”

In addition, Ban voiced appreciation for President Hadi's reaffirmation of his commitment to UN-brokered negotiations and full support for, and participation of his Government in, the Geneva consultations.

“The Secretary-General hoped that the consultations could resume as soon as possible,” the readout concluded.

Photo: Almigdad Mojalli/IRIN