The United Nations on Saturday welcomed the announcement that the U.S. intents to revoke the designation of Yemen's Houthi movement as a terrorist organization.

The revocation will provide profound relief to millions of Yemenis who rely on humanitarian assistance and commercial imports to meet their basic survival needs. It will help ensure that much-needed essential supplies reach them without significant delays, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a note to correspondents.

At a time when Yemen is at significant risk of famine, maintaining commercial imports and humanitarian assistance in adequate quantities is essential, said the note.

"We hope this positive development will contribute to UN efforts to resume a Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process to reach an inclusive, negotiated settlement to the conflict."

The designation came in the very last days of the previous U.S. administration led by Donald Trump. The new administration of President Joe Biden said Friday that it would revoke the designation.

The move came one day after President Biden announced an end to U.S. support for offensive operations in Yemen and his decision to step up diplomacy and support UN-led initiative to end the war.

It's reported that the move did not reflect the U.S. view of the Houthis and their "reprehensible conduct."

The UN describes Yemen as the world's biggest humanitarian crisis, with 80 percent of its people in need.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo blacklisted the Houthis on January 19, one day before Biden took office.

A Saudi-led military coalition intervened in Yemen in 2015, backing government forces fighting the Iran-aligned Houthis. UN officials are trying to revive peace talks as the country also faces an economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.

(With input from Xinhua, Reuters)