Gulf countries will try to organize peace talks in Yemen

Arab Gulf countries will try to organize talks in Riyadh this month between the government of Yemen and the Houthi rebels, officials told AFP on Tuesday.

Yemen, the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula, has been experiencing a devastating war since 2014 that pits the Houthis against the internationally recognized government.

According to the UN, the war has led to the direct or indirect death of 380,000 people and the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.

So far all diplomatic efforts for a peace agreement have failed.

“The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is trying to organize a dialogue between the different Yemeni parties involved in the conflict at the organization's headquarters in Riyadh,” a GCC official said on condition of anonymity.

The information was confirmed by a Gulf diplomat based in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia leads the military coalition that has been intervening in Yemen since 2015 to support the government against the Iranian-backed rebels.

The talks could take place between March 29 and April 7, according to a Yemeni government official who was willing to participate.

According to UN agencies, the number of people in acute food insecurity in Yemen could rise from 17.4 million to 19 million this year, for a total population of 29 million.

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