UN aid chief Mark Lowcock warned Saturday that Yemen was "on the brink of a major catastrophe", as the world body pushes for<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/yemen-peace-talks-set-for-early-december-in-sweden-us-178808"> peace talks</a> in the impoverished and war-wracked country.

His comments came after renewed deadly clashes between Huthi rebels and pro-government forces in the Red Sea port city of Hodeida, vital for the flow of humanitarian aid.

"Yemen is on the brink of a major catastrophe," Lowcock said, as he wrapped up a visit to the country.

He said conditions had deteriorated alarmingly since his last visit in October 2017 to Yemen, which the United Nations has termed the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

"In Aden, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/un-warns-of-danger-of-widespread-famine-in-yemen-173103">I met emaciated children so malnourished they could barely open their eyes</a>," Lowcock said in a statement.

"Humanitarian assistance helps many of these children recover. But I also heard heartbreaking stories of children relapsing again and again because their families simply can't afford food or proper medical care," he said.

Lowcock reiterated the UN's readiness to play a role to ensure that the rebel-held Hodeida port, a key entry point for imports and aid, can remain open.

Under heavy international pressure, Saudi-backed pro-government forces have largely suspended an offensive launched in June to take the port city.

Sporadic clashes have however continued since a fragile truce began on November 13.

Peace talks face 'setbacks'&nbsp;

Fighting on Friday in the east and south of Hodeida left 10 fighters dead, an official and medical sources told AFP on Saturday.

Medical sources confirmed the bodies of eight rebels had been transferred to hospitals, and that two fighters with pro-government forces were also killed.

Intermittent clashes continued on Saturday, Hodeida residents told AFP by phone.

Saudi Arabia accused the Huthis of launching a "military projectile" across the border Friday, saying it hit a house and injured two people in the kingdom, the official SPA news agency reported.

The violence follows a visit to Hodeida last month by UN envoy Martin Griffiths to press for talks.

The proposed peace talks have been backed by both the rebels and the Saudi-led government and were expected to take place in Sweden next week.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, however, has played down the early December schedule and said he hoped talks would start "this year".

"But, as you know, there have been some setbacks," he said on Thursday.

Previous talks planned for September in Geneva failed to get underway as the Huthi delegation never left Yemen's rebel-held capital Sanaa, arguing that the United Nations could not guarantee their safe return.

Lowcock said it was "not too late" to pull back Yemen from the brink but warned that more resources were needed.

"Yemen is the world’s largest humanitarian operation, but in 2019 it will need to be substantially bigger," he said.

Donors this year have provided $2.3 billion for the 2018 response plan, or about 80 per cent of requirements, he added.

According to UN figures, nearly 10,000 people have been killed since the Saudi-led coalition joined the conflict in 2015 to bolster the government against<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/yemens-houthi-group-says-fires-missile-toward-abu-dhabi-nuclear-reactor-25754"> Huthi rebels</a>.

UN agencies say that 14 million people are at risk of starvation in Yemen.&nbsp;

UN aid chief Mark Lowcock warned Saturday that Yemen was "on the brink of a major catastrophe", as the world body pushes for peace talks in the impoverished and war-wracked country.

UN aid chief Mark Lowcock warned Saturday that Yemen was "on the brink of a major catastrophe", as the world body pushes for peace talks in the impoverished and war-wracked country. His comments came after renewed deadly clashes between Huthi rebels and pro-government forces in the Red Sea port city of Hodeida, vital for the flow of humanitarian aid. "Yemen is on the brink of a major catastrophe," Lowcock said, as he wrapped up a visit to the country. He said conditions had deteriorated alarmingly since his last visit in October 2017 to Yemen, which the United Nations has termed the world's worst humanitarian crisis. "In Aden, I met emaciated children so malnourished they could barely open their eyes," Lowcock said in a statement. "Humanitarian assistance helps many of these children recover. But I also heard heartbreaking stories of children relapsing again and again because their families simply can't afford food or proper medical care," he said. Lowcock reiterated the UN's readiness to play a role to ensure that the rebel-held Hodeida port, a key entry point for imports and aid, can remain open. Under heavy international pressure, Saudi-backed pro-government forces have largely suspended an offensive launched in June to take the port city. Sporadic clashes have however continued since a fragile truce began on November 13. Peace talks face 'setbacks' Fighting on Friday in the east and south of Hodeida left 10 fighters dead, an official and medical sources told AFP on Saturday. Medical sources confirmed the bodies of eight rebels had been transferred to hospitals, and that two fighters with pro-government forces were also killed. Intermittent clashes continued on Saturday, Hodeida residents told AFP by phone. Saudi Arabia accused the Huthis of launching a "military projectile" across the border Friday, saying it hit a house and injured two people in the kingdom, the official SPA news agency reported. The violence follows a visit to Hodeida last month by UN envoy Martin Griffiths to press for talks. The proposed peace talks have been backed by both the rebels and the Saudi-led government and were expected to take place in Sweden next week. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, however, has played down the early December schedule and said he hoped talks would start "this year". "But, as you know, there have been some setbacks," he said on Thursday. Previous talks planned for September in Geneva failed to get underway as the Huthi delegation never left Yemen's rebel-held capital Sanaa, arguing that the United Nations could not guarantee their safe return. Lowcock said it was "not too late" to pull back Yemen from the brink but warned that more resources were needed. "Yemen is the world’s largest humanitarian operation, but in 2019 it will need to be substantially bigger," he said. Donors this year have provided $2.3 billion for the 2018 response plan, or about 80 per cent of requirements, he added. According to UN figures, nearly 10,000 people have been killed since the Saudi-led coalition joined the conflict in 2015 to bolster the government against Huthi rebels. UN agencies say that 14 million people are at risk of starvation in Yemen.

Yemen on the brink of a major catastrophe: UN aid chief Mark Lowcock

The Saudi-led coalition fighting in support of Yemen&#39;s government has killed a senior military officer of Yemen&#39;s Houthi movement on the border with Saudi Arabia, &nbsp;a source in the Saudi-led coalition was quoted as saying in the media reports on Saturday. &nbsp; 
 
Head of Houthi special forces, Major-General Hassan Almalsi, was killed on Thursday while attempting to infiltrate a squad of Houthi fighters into the kingdom&#39;s southern province of Najran, the source said, according to a Reuters report.&nbsp; 
 
It&#39;s pertinent to mention that the coalition has been fighting the Houthis since March 2015 to restore internationally-backed government to power, international news agency AFP reports. The air strikes being carried out by the coalition aim to gain ground support for forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi who fled to Riyadh last year.&nbsp; 
 
While Riyadh views Iran as a threat to Middle East&#39;s stability and blames it for supporting &quot;Shi&#39;ite militias that have inflamed sectarian violence&quot;, according to Reuters, Tehran views the Houthis as the legitimate authority in Yemen.&nbsp; 
 
Allied with soldiers loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, the Houthis seized Yemen`s capital Sanaa in late 2014 before moving into other parts of the country.&nbsp; 
 
Iran, however, denies accusations that it supplies the rebel group, who say they are fighting against the corrupt government, with arms.&nbsp; 
 
Meanwhile, Riyadh has been facing mounting pressure from the&nbsp;international community over casualties in the Yemen conflict.&nbsp; 
 
Last month, Houthi movement and allied Yemeni forces resumed shelling into neighbouring Saudi Arabi after UN-sponsored talks to end the fighting that has killed more than 10,000 people collapsed in failure &nbsp;according to Reuters.&nbsp; 
 
(WION with inputs from AFP, Reuters)&nbsp;

Head of Houthi rebel 'special forces', Hassan Almalsi, was killed 'during an infiltration attempt along with his squad at Najran'

The Saudi-led coalition fighting in support of Yemen's government has killed a senior military officer of Yemen's Houthi movement on the border with Saudi Arabia, a source in the Saudi-led coalition was quoted as saying in the media reports on Saturday. Head of Houthi special forces, Major-General Hassan Almalsi, was killed on Thursday while attempting to infiltrate a squad of Houthi fighters into the kingdom's southern province of Najran, the source said, according to a Reuters report. It's pertinent to mention that the coalition has been fighting the Houthis since March 2015 to restore internationally-backed government to power, international news agency AFP reports. The air strikes being carried out by the coalition aim to gain ground support for forces loyal to President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi who fled to Riyadh last year. While Riyadh views Iran as a threat to Middle East's stability and blames it for supporting "Shi'ite militias that have inflamed sectarian violence", according to Reuters, Tehran views the Houthis as the legitimate authority in Yemen. Allied with soldiers loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, the Houthis seized Yemen`s capital Sanaa in late 2014 before moving into other parts of the country. Iran, however, denies accusations that it supplies the rebel group, who say they are fighting against the corrupt government, with arms. Meanwhile, Riyadh has been facing mounting pressure from the international community over casualties in the Yemen conflict. Last month, Houthi movement and allied Yemeni forces resumed shelling into neighbouring Saudi Arabi after UN-sponsored talks to end the fighting that has killed more than 10,000 people collapsed in failure according to Reuters. (WION with inputs from AFP, Reuters)

Saudi-led coalition strike kills senior Houthi rebel leader in Yemen, say sources

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Yemen on the brink of a major catastrophe: UN aid chief Mark Lowcock

Saudi-led coalition strike kills senior Houthi rebel leader in Yemen, say sources