UN head calls for political settlement to end Yemen crisis

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Tuesday that only a cessation of hostilities and a political settlement can bring about a permanent end to the conflict and the suffering of the Yemeni people.

"Yemen today is experiencing a tragedy of immense proportions. Two years of conflict have devastated the lives of ordinary Yemenis," Guterres said here at a high-level pledging event for the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

"War has devastated the economy, destroyed health services, and forced three million people from their homes -- leaving many unable to earn a living or grow crops. Basic services have collapsed, placing millions at risk of disease and other threats," he noted.

According to the UN, nearly two-thirds of the population, or almost 19 million people, need emergency support. Some 17 million are food-insecure, making it the world's largest hunger crisis. And seven out of 22 governorates are facing a severe food security emergency.

The UN head called on the parties to the conflict to engage in peace talks facilitated by his Special Envoy for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed.

He urged everyone to facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian aid by air, sea, and land. All infrastructure must remain open and operational, he said.

Guterres said the humanitarian appeal for 2017 was 2.1 billion U.S. dollars, of which only 15 percent has been met until now. Endit