Islam Times - ‘Concerned’ Kerry to Discuss ’Humanitarian Pause’ in Yemen with Saudis

Islam Times - US Secretary of State John Kerry said Wednesday he will talk to Saudi Arabia about the implementation of a "humanitarian pause" in Yemen in order to facilitate aid operations.

"I will be there in Saudi Arabia tonight. We will be discussing the nature of the pause and how it might be implemented," Kerry told reporters in Djibouti.

"We are deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation that is unfolding in Yemen."

"I am convinced of their desire to implement a pause," Kerry said of the Saudi authorities, who have been launching since March 26 a brutal aggression against the Arab impoverished state.

"We hope that the coalition will join in working with the UN and the rest of the global community in order to find a way to deliver aid," he said.

"For the time being the immediate crisis is the humanitarian one," Kerry added, also announcing $68 million in humanitarian assistance to Yemen.

Riyadh launched the attack on Yemen in a bid to restore power to Yemen’s fugitive president Abd Rabbuh Mansour Hadi who is a close ally to Saudi Arabia.

On April 21, Saudi Arabia declared the end of the aggression, dubbed “Decisive Strom.” But the airstrikes are going as a part of another campaign called “Restoring Hope.”

The Saudi-led warplanes are still conducting airstrikes on several areas across Yemen.
Thousands have been martyred and injured in the attack, with the vast majority of them are civilians.