No ‘easy’ way to end long Yemen war

The UN humanitarian aid chief says he does not expect an “easy or rapid process” in peace talks aimed at ending Yemen’s devastating civil war, which are set to start later this week.

Mark Lowcock, head of the world body’s Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said $21.9 billion (£17.1bn) is needed next year for food, shelter, health care, education, protection and other assistance worldwide.

The worst humanitarian crisis is in Yemen, where the government and a Saudi-led coalition have been locked in a war with the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels since March 2015.