US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday (September 19th) called for an extension of the fragile truce in Yemen, saying it had helped improve the lives of local people in the war-torn country.
Speaking during an interview in New York with Yemeni Prime Minister Rashad al-Alimi, he also praised the "
vital
" role played by the latter in maintaining the truce.
The two officials are in New York for the annual UN General Assembly.
Read alsoIn Yemen, a fragile truce before Ramadan
"
I think it's safe to say that the truce - the effects of which are felt across Yemen - has made a profound difference in improving people's lives and your leadership in trying to maintain this truce has also made a huge difference
, “said the head of American diplomacy to the press.
According to State Department spokesman Ned Price, Antony Blinken stressed to the president
the "urgency
" to extend the ceasefire, which expires on October 2.
Yemen has been ravaged since 2014 by a conflict between Houthi rebels, close to Iran, and government forces, supported by a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia.
A fragile truce came into effect last April.
According to the UN, the war in Yemen has left hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced, with two-thirds of the population in need of humanitarian aid.
