Yemeni parliament Speaker Sultan al-Burkani denounced the Houthis for obstructing peace efforts and urged the United Nations to pressure the Iran-backed militias to stop ittheirs offensive against the northwestern governorate of Marib.
According to a press release by Burkani’s office, the speaker held a videoconference meeting with UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths.
Burkani and Griffiths discussed the latest developments in the war-torn country, especially the Houthi escalation in Marib.
Urgent steps needed to stop the devastating war in Marib were also addressed.
They reviewed the worsening living, economic and health conditions across Yemen and the Houthis’ plundering of people’s assets and national resources to fund their war effort.
As for peace efforts, Burkani reiterated that the internationally recognized Yemeni government was eager to bring the crisis to an end.
He reaffirmed that the government was positively engaging in all initiatives working to resolve the conflict in Yemen, the latest of which is the Saudi peace plan.
However, the Houthis have rejected all initiatives and violated agreements, and are constantly undermining international efforts.
Burkani expressed his hope for “the efforts spent by the UN envoy to stop the war in Marib meeting success and achieving quick and positive results.
“The attack on Marib puts the credibility of the UN at stake, especially since there are hundreds of victims who fall daily as a result of the war waged by (Houthi) militias against the people in the governorate,” he added, according to the media brief.
He went on to warn of the humanitarian, environmental and economic catastrophe looming on the horizon should the Houthi offensive persist against Marib, where vital oil and gas installations are located.
Griffiths, for his part, stressed that the UN rejects all forms of violence carried out by the Houthis and is aware of the magnitude of the risks at play.
