The
UN said Yemen's warring parties have agreed to a two-month extendable
truce starting Saturday, the first day of Ramadan for many Muslims, and an
accord on fuel shipments and Sanaa airport.
اضافة اعلان
"The parties to the conflict have responded positively to a United
Nations proposal for a two-month truce which comes into effect tomorrow 2 April
at 1900hrs," UN special envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg said in a statement
Friday.
"The truce can be renewed beyond the two-month period with the consent
of the parties."
The announcement comes as discussions on Yemen's devastating conflict take
place in Saudi Arabia, which leads a military coalition supporting the
government against the Iran-backed Huthi rebels.
The insurgents -- who rejected joining talks held on enemy territory -- last
week made a surprise offer of a temporary truce and a prisoner swap.
The coalition later said it would cease military operations in Yemen during
the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The ceasefire, the first since April 2020, has been respected so far.
"The parties accepted to halt all offensive military air, ground and
maritime operations inside Yemen and across its borders," Grundberg said.
"They also agreed for fuel ships to enter into Hodeida (province's)
ports and commercial flights to operate in and out of Sanaa airport to
predetermined destinations in the region."
"They further agreed to meet under my auspices to open roads in Taiz
and other governorates in Yemen," he added.
The UN envoy thanked both sides for working with him in "good
faith".
"The aim of this truce is to give Yemenis a necessary break from
violence, relief from the humanitarian suffering and most importantly hope that
an end to this conflict is possible," he added.
- 'Permanent
ceasefire' -
The rebels have shunned the week-long discussions, which launched in Riyadh
on Wednesday and are hosted by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council.
But the recent developments bring a glimmer of hope in a brutal war that has
killed hundreds of thousands and left millions on the brink of famine in Yemen,
long the Arab world's poorest country.
Grundberg said Friday he would continue to engage with the parties during
the two months, "with the aim to reach a permanent ceasefire", and
urged both sides to adhere to the truce.
The Huthis last week said they had agreed to a prisoner swap that would free
1,400 of their fighters in exchange for 823 pro-government personnel --
including 16 Saudis and three Sudanese.
The last prisoner swap in Yemen's war was in October 2020, when 1,056 were
released on each side, according to the International Committee of the Red
Cross.
Yemen's devastated economy and its complex political situation as well as military
matters and humanitarian aid are all on the table at the Riyadh talks.
Yemen's 30 million people are in dire need of assistance.
A UN donors' conference last month raised less than a third of the $4.27
billion target, prompting dark warnings for a country where 80 percent of the
population depends on aid.
Read More Region & World
.jpg)
.jpg)
