by Our Foreign Desk

US SECRETARY of State John Kerry declared his hope for a ceasefire in the Saudi-led war on Yemen during a visit to Djibouti yesterday.

Mr Kerry, who was due to attend talks in the Saudi kingdom today, said that the humanitarian crisis stemming from Riyadh’s assault on its southern neighbour necessitated a halt to the conflict.

Over 100,000 civilians have fled the country to escape the war.

“The situation is getting more dire by the day,” he said.

Mr Kerry blamed Yemen’s Shi’ite Houthi rebels for the conflict and claimed that Washington-backed Saudi Arabia had eased access for aid agencies.

But he hinted that a ceasefire could be negotiated in the coming days, alluding to diplomatic phone conversations with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and another unnamed country.

Mr Kerry said that even a temporary halt to the fighting “would be welcome news to the world.”Saudi officials responded that all options were open.

The secretary of state announced $68 million (£44.5m) in new US aid to Yemen, plus an additional $2m (£1.3m) to help Djibouti deal with an influx of Yemeni refugees.

An alliance of regional states fronted by Saudi Arabia launched a bombing campaign against Yemen in March in an attempt to reinstall former president Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who was deposed and briefly detained by the Houthis in January.

Djibouti plays host to US military forces and is used as a base for drone attacks on neighbouring countries, including Yemen.