Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed was holding discussions with the pro-Hadi government in Saudi Arabia to push for a pause to allow aid into war-ravaged country, sources said, according to Reuters news agency.

According to the U.N., more than 80 percent of the country’s population need aid and the health system faces “imminent collapse.”

On Saturday, Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdul Salam said in a post on his Facebook page he had met with Ahmed to discuss the matter, according to Reuters.

Earlier this week, The U.S. State Department called for a “humanitarian pause” in the conflict during the month of Ramadan to allow international aid groups to deliver urgently needed food, medicine and fuel.

The European Union said it supported U.N. efforts to secure a lasting, predictable and sustainable humanitarian ceasefire and demanded that Saudi-led forces ease restrictions on entry of ships to Yemeni ports.

An Arab coalition has been bombarding Iran-backed Houthi militias and allied army units since March in a campaign to restore exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi to power.