UN chief names Swedish diplomat Grundberg as new Yemen envoy

Hans Grundberg to replace Martin Griffiths, who tried to mediate an end to the conflict in Yemen for the past three years.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has named Swedish diplomat Hans Grundberg as his new Yemen envoy after a delay of several weeks as China considered whether to approve the appointment, which needed consensus Security Council agreement. The 15-member council approved Grundberg this week as a replacement for Martin Griffiths, who became the UN aid chief last month after trying to mediate an end to the conflict in Yemen for the past three years. The war has killed tens of thousands of people and caused a dire humanitarian crisis, pushing Yemen to the brink of famine.