Saudi Arabia, Yemen’s Houthi rebels in indirect peace talks

Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-backed rebels are holding indirect, behind--scenes talks to end impoverished Arab country’s devastating five-year war. Officials from both sides have told Associated Press that negotiations are taking place with Oman, which borders both Yemen and Saudi Arabia, as mediator.

two sides have communicated via video conference over past two months. That’s according to Gamal Amer, a negotiator for Yemeni rebels kwn as Houthis. y have also talked through European intermediaries, according to three Houthi officials. Yemen remains a divided country. Houthis have controlled capital, Sanaa, and much of rth since 2014.

Saudi-led military coalition, which entered war in 2015, is fighting on behalf of Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hi and his internationally recognized government.

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Poorest country in world

United Nations said in an official report that if ongoing civil war in Yemen continues till 2022 n it would become poorest country in world. percent of poverty in year 2014 was 47, and it is expected to reach 75 percent by end of this year due to war. United Nations Development Program published a report on September 26 which discussed current scenario of Yemen. report quoted UNDP ministrator, Achim Steiner who said that war has me Yemen 'largest humanitarian crisis in world'.

Yemen is currently among poorest countries in Middle-Eastern region and its condition deteriorated even more after Saudi-led intervention in 2015. UN report says, "If fighting continues through 2022, Yemen will rank as poorest country in world, with 79 percent of population living under poverty line and 65 percent classified as extremely poor". report furr said, " intensity of poverty has also surged, with Yemen projected by 2022 to have largest poverty gap— distance between aver income and poverty line—in world". As per UN reports, war-ravd country w cant take a chance to wait and must act quickly.

(With AP inputs)

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