The United Nations special envoy to Yemen has expressed concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the impoverished Arabian Peninsula country due to the Saudi military aggression.

Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed made the remarks on Tuesday in the Swiss city of Geneva, where UN-brokered consultations on Yemen are being held.

Cheikh Ahmed referred to a surge in the number of people in need of help in Yemen, adding, Yemeni citizens are currently in a difficult situation from the humanitarian point of view.

“I was the Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen less than two years ago. When I was there, seven million Yemenis needed humanitarian assistance. Today, 21 million Yemenis need humanitarian assistance and 20 million have no drinking water,” he said.

The Yemenis hope for a ceasefire before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, even if it is a humanitarian truce, the official added.

Cheikh Ahmed further emphasized that the UN believes that dialog among Yemeni groups is crucial for ending the crisis in the war-stricken country.

“In a situation like this, the Yemenis need to talk among themselves, not with the United Nations. As long as we have not reached the point where the Yemenis agree together, this will be very difficult. For them to agree, they have to start talking together,” he stated.

The remarks come as representatives of several Yemeni factions, including the Ansarullah movement, are holding consultations in Geneva to find a way out of the ongoing conflict in the Arab country.

Saudi Arabia launched its aggression against Yemen on March 26 without the approval of the UN. The international organization says at least 2,600 people have been killed and 11,000 others injured due to the conflict in Yemen since March 19. This is while the Yemeni army along with popular committees, including the Ansarullah fighters, are also combating terrorist al-Qaeda-linked groups and the Takfiri ISIL militants across the country.

SSM/HMV/GHN