ADEN, Yemen, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg on Wednesday stressed the urgent need for regional and international coordination to create conditions for a "lasting and inclusive peace" in Yemen, according to a statement issued by his office.

Grundberg made the remarks during a visit to Riyadh, where he attended the Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum hosted by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief). The statement was published on the social media platform X.

During his trip, Grundberg held what the statement described as "constructive discussions" with Yemeni Foreign Minister Shaya Zindani and other officials.

The statement said the Special Envoy underscored the importance of concerted efforts to pave the way for a durable political solution and urged regional and global stakeholders to support dialogue.

Grundberg also demanded the "immediate and unconditional release" of UN staff, civil society activists, NGO workers, and diplomatic personnel detained by the Houthi group in the capital Sanaa.

The Houthis have arrested dozens of employees from UN agencies and local and international aid organizations over the past two years.

Yemen has remained in a fragile stalemate since October 2022, when a UN-mediated truce between the Saudi-backed government and the Houthi group expired. Efforts to renew or expand the ceasefire have repeatedly collapsed.

Despite sustained diplomatic engagement, neither party has signaled readiness to restart formal negotiations. The war, which erupted in 2014, has killed hundreds of thousands and left millions facing famine, according to UN estimates. Enditem

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