UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths told the Security Council on Thursday that he believed an end to fighting in the country is within close reach, while cautioning that he had come "yet again to express hope, instead of to report success."

The United Nations has reported "significant progress" on negotiations, particularly regarding the ceasefire. However, Griffiths underscored that peace is part of a broader package of needs that must be agreed to, including humanitarian and economic measures.

He said he was "extremely encouraged" that both the Yemeni government and opposition Houthi rebels, known formally as Ansar Allah, have positively engaged with UN proposals, calling them "important indications" of their willingness to make the needed compromises for peace.

The civil war escalated in 2013 when a Saudi-led coalition joined the internationally recognized government effort to drive the Houthis and their supporters out of the capital, as well as other areas under their control.

Recent clashes in Hodeidah, Marib, al-Jawf, al-Bayda and elsewhere show that peace remains elusive, said Griffiths.

Describing the situation in Aden where the UN envoy fears "a perfect storm is brewing," he spoke about COVID-19, malaria and cholera causing deaths to rise daily, and a health system damaged by years of civil war.

Save the Children, a humanitarian aid organization for children, has said there had been at least 380 deaths in the past week.

According to the World Health Organization, the number of confirmed cases were just 72, with 13 deaths, but some reports suggest that the actual number might be much higher.

Some health professionals lacking personal protective equipment refused to work and several local hospitals have closed, the organization said in a statement.

There are only 500 ventilators across the whole country, and only four labs having the capability to test the virus, according to Save the Children.

 (With input from agencies)