The "initial consultative" meeting in Geneva will take place on Monday, June 15, with the participation of the conflicting parties in Yemen; the country's exiled government and the rebels. This meeting begins while the representatives of the parties have not even agreed to start discussions in a shared room. According to a statement by Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the UN envoy for Yemen, this meeting is considered the beginning of a "comprehensive initial consultation" regarding a crisis that has left over 2,500 dead and has been warned to be "catastrophic." Observers are not very optimistic about the outcome of the Geneva meeting. Nevertheless, this is the first time that all the main factions involved in the Yemen crisis, the Houthis who are supported by Iranian officials and the exiled government, which is supported by Saudi Arabia and its allies, will participate. Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General, who will personally attend the opening of the meeting, has asked the parties to come to Geneva without preconditions and in good faith. He previously stated that the aim of the gathering is to find a way for a ceasefire, a plan for the withdrawal of the Houthis, and an increase in humanitarian aid. Fighting and airstrikes in Yemen continue. Yemen has become the scene of ground conflicts between the Houthi rebels and their allies on one side and their opponents, mainly supporters of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, the exiled president of the country, on the other. The rebels have also been targeted by airstrikes from a Saudi-led coalition. The Yemen crisis has heightened concerns about escalating tensions in the region and has once again cast a shadow over the tumultuous relations between Riyadh and Tehran. The United Nations has described the humanitarian situation in the country as "catastrophic" and states that 80% of the 20 million civilian population in the country needs assistance. The Geneva meeting is taking place while the Houthis continue to advance and Saudi airstrikes persist. According to Reuters on June 14, the Houthi rebels took control of the city of "al-Hazm," the center of the "Jouf" province, which borders Saudi Arabia.
Geneva Meeting on Yemen Crisis Begins
The Geneva meeting on the Yemen crisis begins with participation from both the exiled government and Houthi rebels. Despite the dire humanitarian situation and ongoing conflict, there is skepticism about the meeting's potential for progress. This is significant as it marks the first time all major factions are present for discussions.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
An initial consultative meeting on the Yemen crisis began in Geneva with participation from both the exiled Yemeni government and Houthi rebels. The meeting aims to discuss a ceasefire and humanitarian aid amidst ongoing conflict.
- The meeting is the first involving all major factions in the Yemen crisis.
- The UN aims to facilitate a ceasefire and improve humanitarian conditions.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Yemen conflict began in 2014 when the Houthi rebels took control of the capital, leading to a Saudi-led intervention. It has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%