Britain Says Consultations between UN Yemen Envoy, Houthis are ‘Positive’

A worker carries a sack of wheat flour outside a food store amid concerns over the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Sanaa, Yemen May 13, 2020. (Reuters)
A worker carries a sack of wheat flour outside a food store amid concerns over the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Sanaa, Yemen May 13, 2020. (Reuters)
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Britain Says Consultations between UN Yemen Envoy, Houthis are ‘Positive’

A worker carries a sack of wheat flour outside a food store amid concerns over the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Sanaa, Yemen May 13, 2020. (Reuters)
A worker carries a sack of wheat flour outside a food store amid concerns over the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Sanaa, Yemen May 13, 2020. (Reuters)

British Ambassador to Yemen Michael Aron described as “positive” the consultations between United Nations envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, and the Iran-backed Houthi militias.

The consultations are based on the initiative Griffiths had presented to achieve a comprehensive settlement to end the conflict, which erupted five years ago when the Houthis staged a coup against the legitimate government.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, the ambassador said the talks between Griffiths and the Houthis are being held in “positive” circumstances.

He believed that the envoy was “optimistic”, adding that he was in contact with all parties. Aron said he was expecting “good news” to come from these efforts.

While waiting for this news, Aron called on the legitimate government, Houthis and Southern Transitional Council (STC) to show “greater responsibility” given the “very, very bad” conditions the country is enduring, hoping that they would move forward towards a comprehensive settlement.

He cited the ongoing fighting in Marib, Abyan and Hodeidah, saying it was unacceptable in wake of the dire humanitarian situation, the novel coronavirus outbreak and other crises.

On efforts to implement the Riyadh Agreement between the legitimate government and STC, the ambassador also described the circumstances as positive, but said he hoped the legitimacy would present some positive steps from its end.

He spoke of the need for “flexibility” from both parties, saying that Saudi Arabia has a good plan.

He stressed the need for the STC to end its declaration of self-rule, adding that he “understands” the issues that are being proposed in the interim capital Aden, but there is a need today for the legitimate government to return to the city.

The Riyadh Agreement must be implemented so that a new government can be appointed, he suggested, reiterating the need for flexibility from both parties for positive results to be reached on the ground.



UN Human Rights Office: 798 People Killed while Receiving Aid in Gaza

Palestinians carry containers for water at a camp for the displaced in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinians carry containers for water at a camp for the displaced in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
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UN Human Rights Office: 798 People Killed while Receiving Aid in Gaza

Palestinians carry containers for water at a camp for the displaced in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinians carry containers for water at a camp for the displaced in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Monday, July 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

The UN human rights office said on Friday that it had recorded at least 798 killings both at aid points run by the US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) and near humanitarian convoys run by other relief groups, including the UN.

The GHF uses private US security and logistics companies to get supplies into Gaza, largely bypassing a UN-led system that Israel says had let militants divert aid.

The United Nations has called the plan "inherently unsafe" and a violation of humanitarian impartiality rules.

"Up until the seventh of July, we've recorded now 798 killings, including 615 in the vicinity of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites, and 183 presumably on the route of aid convoys," OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva, according to Reuters.

The GHF began distributing food packages in Gaza at the end of May and has repeatedly denied that incidents had occurred at its sites.