UN chief urges Saudi prince to seek political solution in Yemen

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday presented a $930 million cheque to the UN for humanitarian aid in Yemen as the UN chief pushed for an end to the war in which Riyadh leads a military coalition. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres thanked Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the contribution, but stressed that the war in Yemen requires a political solution, and not just a humanitarian response. “There is no humanitarian solution for humanitarian problems,” Guterres said after receiving the cheque, which also came from the United Arab Emirates. The Emirates plays a major role in the coalition, which intervened militarily three years ago to support Yemen’s government against Huthi rebels. Civilian casualties from coalition air strikes have drawn criticism from rights groups, and in October the UN placed the alliance on a “blacklist” for killing and maiming children. Riyadh insists the coalition respects its obligations under international humanitarian law.“The solution is political and we are entirely at your disposal to work to find a solution” that will “end the suffering in Yemen,” Guterres said. The UN is making a fresh push for peace talks in Yemen, where the coalition acted to support the internationally-recognised government after the Huthis seized the capital. About 10,000 Yemenis have been killed in the war. The UN calls it the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with 22.2 million people in need of aid, a growing risk of famine, and a severe outbreak of cholera.