UN says it could reach 3 million in aid if Yemen war took humanitarian pause

NEW YORK – The United Nations humanitarian chief says the latest attempt at a humanitarian pause in Yemen “has not been respected by any party to the conflict.”

Stephen O’Brien says a plan to reach 3 million people with aid is ready to go if only the fighting would stop.

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O’Brien briefed the Security Council on Tuesday and repeated the call for an “unconditional freeze” in the months-long fighting between a Saudi-led coalition and Houthi rebels.

READ MORE: UN food agency cuts back help to Syrian refugees after ceasefire appeal ignored

A five-day humanitarian pause announced by the coalition quickly fell apart early Monday.

The humanitarian chief told the council that as of last Friday, health facilities in Yemen had reported more than 4,000 conflict-related deaths.

O’Brien says he will travel to Yemen in the coming weeks, and Yemen’s U.N. ambassador says he welcomes the Aug. 9 visit.