The U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen, Tim Lenderking, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, where he is scheduled to meet with senior officials from both the Kingdom and Yemen. A statement from the U.S. State Department noted that Lenderking will discuss the escalating consequences of the Houthi attack on Marib "which exacerbates the humanitarian crisis and leads to instability in other parts of the country".
The special envoy will address the urgent need for efforts by the Yemeni and Saudi governments to stabilize the Yemeni economy and facilitate the import and transfer of fuel to northern Yemen. The statement emphasized "the necessity for the Houthis to stop manipulating fuel imports and prices".
Lenderking will also meet with representatives from the international community and the office of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen to discuss the importance of a comprehensive peace process and the swift appointment of a new UN envoy. The statement indicated: "Now is the time to end the fighting and enable Yemenis to shape a more peaceful and prosperous future for their country."
The war that erupted in 2014 between the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and the Iran-backed Houthis has caused widespread destruction in this impoverished country and led to a humanitarian crisis that has pushed millions of its residents to the brink of famine.
