VATICAN CITY– Pope Francis on Sunday called for urgent “respect” for a ceasefire accord in Yemen to allow humanitarian aid through in the conflict-weary country.

“I appeal to all parties concerned and to the international community to allow the urgent respect of established accords to ensure the distribution of food and to work for the good of the population,” he said before embarking on
a historic visit to the United Arab Emirates, the first by a pope to the Arabian peninsula.