Aden — A truce between the Yemen government and the Houthis has been extended for two months, the United Nations has announced.
The Special Envoy, Hans Grundberg, is meeting with Yemeni public figures as part of his consultations in Amman, Jordan. (Credit: OSESGY)
The first two-month truce since 2016 began on April 2 and was set to end on Thursday. Yet, after days of negotiations, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg made an announcement.
The parties involved in the conflict had reached an agreement on an extension.
Grundberg said that the parties to the conflict have agreed to the United Nations’ proposal to renew the present truce in Yemen. The truce was to e renewed for two more months.
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Grundberg added that the truce extension would be brought into effect; “when the current truce period expires, today June 2, 2022, at 19:00 Yemen time (1600 GMT)”.
Grundberg said, “I am grateful for the international community’s support for implementing and renewing the truce.”
He noted, in particular, the support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Oman.
“I will continue engaging with the parties to fully implement and consolidate all elements of the truce. Moving towards a sustainable political settlement to the conflict; that meets the legitimate aspirations and demands of Yemeni women and men.”
Erin Hutchinson, the Norwegian Refugee Council’s (NRC) Yemen Country Director, made a statement after Grundberg’s announcement.
“The announcement of the truce extension shows a serious commitment from all the parties to end the suffering of millions of Yemenis.”
The last two months have proven that peaceful solutions to the conflict are a real option.
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The truce provisions were not completely implemented. But the roads leading to the sizeable government-held city of Taiz remained closed by the Iran-aligned Houthis.
For example, there have been some significant breakthroughs.
The parties involved in the conflict were able to reach an agreement on certain things as part of the truce deal that was put into effect on April 2.
Including halting all military operations inside Yemen and across its borders. They also agreed to operate two commercial flights a week from Houthi-controlled Sanaa to Jordan and Egypt.
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Also, to open the roads in Taiz and other governorates and allow 18 fuel vessels into the port of Houthi-controlled Hodeidah.
According to the NRC, the number of civilians injured and killed in Yemen dropped by almost more than 50 percent within the first month of the truce. — Agencies
