US envoy for Yemen heads to Middle East to boost truce and funding

Tim Lenderking will travel to the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia in his second trip in three weeks

During his trip to the region, special envoy Tim Lenderking will highlight the need for more financial assistance for Yemenis. Reuters

The US special envoy for Yemen, Tim Lenderking, departs for the Middle East today on a second trip in three weeks designed to expand the truce in the war-torn country and push for a final settlement.

Mr Lenderking will travel to the UAE, Oman and Saudi Arabia, the State Department announced.

Members of his team will travel to Jordan, where negotiations between different Yemeni factions have been taking place.

The trip is Mr Lenderking’s third in a month and is intended to "help secure an expansion of the UN-mediated truce and bolster peace efforts".

On August 2, Yemeni factions agreed to a third two-month extension of their ceasefire.

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  Yemenis inspect the rubble of a Unesco-listed building that collapsed in heavy rains which hit the old city of Sanaa. At least five historic multi-storey tower buildings in the old quarter came down and more than 40 others were severely damaged. AP

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  A man inspects a collapsed building in Sanaa. AFP

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  Heavy rains brought down this building in the Yemeni capital's old city. AFP

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  A police officer directs traffic along a flooded street in Sanaa. AFP

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  The Unesco-listed buildings have suffered in the torrential rains that have hit Yemen over the past two weeks. EPA

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  The old city of Sanaa, which is a dense warren of centuries-old mud-brick buildings, was listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1986. EPA

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  Torrential rains have hit Yemen over the past two weeks, causing damage to dozens of buildings and roads. EPA

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  A Yemeni inspects the damage caused by heavy rains in Sanaa's old quarter. EPA

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  The old city of Sanaa was listed by Unesco in 1986. EPA

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  A Yemeni man inspects a collapsed building in the old quarter of Sanaa. EPA

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  Damaged historic buildings in Sanaa. AP

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  The remains of damaged buildings in the Yemeni capital. AP

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  Ruined buildings in Sanaa's old town. AP

“The special envoy and his team will focus on helping to meaningfully expand benefits of the truce to all Yemenis and pave the way for a permanent ceasefire and an inclusive, durable, Yemeni-led resolution to the conflict,” the State Department said.

Mr Lenderking will also discuss the instability in Shabwa, where fighting has resumed this week, and the need for a return to calm.

The envoy will also try to bring in more financial assistance for Yemenis.

“The United States has already provided over $1 billion in humanitarian aid this year alone, bringing our total contribution to the humanitarian response in Yemen to nearly $5bn since the crisis began eight years ago," the department said.

"We urge donors both to give generously and to make previous pledges immediately available for the sake of the people of Yemen."

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  Hollywood actress and UN special envoy Angelina Jolie, left, sits with displaced Yemeni women and listens to their stories of struggle in Al Kandam, Yemen. AP

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  The actress arrived in Yemen on Sunday to meet people who have been displaced by the country's seven-year conflict. AP

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  Her visit comes before the annual pledging meeting for Yemen on March 16. AFP

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  Jolie is hoping her visit will help draw attention to the conflict's catastrophic consequences, said the UN refugee agency, UNHCR. AP

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  Jolie inside a camp for people displaced by war in Lahej, Yemen. Reuters

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  The UN special envoy shakes hands with a woman displaced by war. Reuters

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  UN aid chiefs worry that donor fatigue will affect Yemen, as governments shift allocations to Ukraine, Afghanistan and other crises. Reuters

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  Jolie gestures as she leaves a camp for displaced people. Reuters

While in Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE, Mr Lenderking reaffirmed support of the UN's efforts to raise awareness and funds for the dilapidated Safer oil tanker moored off Yemen’s Red Sea coast, which could contaminate the region's entire water supply in a matter of weeks.

“With about $14 million unfunded and a UN-Houthi agreement to offload the oil to a temporary vessel, we are the closest we have ever been to addressing the threat posed by this derelict tanker,” the State Department said.