Turkey: Main opposition urges global voice for Yemen

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's main opposition leader on Tuesday called on the Muslim world to raise its voice against the war in Yemen.

In his address to the party lawmakers at the parliamentary group meeting, Republican People's Party (CHP) head Kemal Kilicdaroglu said that 18 million people suffered from hunger and 5.5 million children were homeless in Yemen.

"While these happen in Yemen, what does the Muslim world think about it, does it want to end this war?," Kilicdaroglu questioned.

"Today is Universal Children's Day, but 5.5 million children are in the middle of a war. World, including the Muslim world, watch this [war]," he said.

Yemen has remained wracked by violence since 2014, when Shia Houthi rebels overran much of the country, including capital Sanaa.

The conflict escalated in 2015 when Saudi Arabia and its Sunni-Arab allies -- who accuse the Houthis of serving as proxies for Shia Iran -- launched a massive air campaign in Yemen aimed at rolling back Houthi gains.