U.N.'s Grandi calls for Yemen talks, fears refugee exodus

FILE PHOTO: U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, speaks during a news conference at the Al Zaatari refugee camp, in the Jordanian city of Mafraq, near the border with Syria, February 12, 2018. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed/Files

GENEVA (Reuters) - Escalating violence in Yemen could lead to a refugee exodus and will not end a war that has taken a huge toll on civilians, U.N. refugee chief Filippo Grandi said on Wednesday, as a Saudi-led coalition launched the largest assault of the war.

"It’s actually surprising that an exodus has not happened yet," he told Reuters. "The message is go back to the negotiating table as soon as possible."

(Reporting by Tom Miles; Editing by Catherine Evans)