Conflict parties agree on ceasefire in Yemen

The conflicting parties agree on a ceasefire, which is to begin on Saturday. The hunger crisis could still worsen.

Firefighters extinguish a blaze in the capital Sana’a caused by a Saudi airstrike. At least seven people died in the attack, according to Houthi rebels. March 26, 2022.

Hani Mohammed / AP

(dpa) According to the UN, the conflicting parties in the civil war-torn Yemen have agreed on an initial two-month ceasefire. It should start on Saturday evening, as the UN special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, announced on Friday. The aim is to give people a break from violence after seven years of war and to resolve the conflict as long as possible. The ceasefire could also be extended with the consent of both parties to the conflict.

A military alliance led by Saudi Arabia had already announced a few days ago that it would temporarily stop its operations against Yemen’s Houthi rebels. At the same time, internal Yemeni talks on an end to the conflict, to which the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) had invited, began in the Saudi capital Riyadh. However, the Houthi rebels stayed away from the meeting because they oppose talks in Saudi Arabia.

Hunger crisis could worsen

All previous diplomatic efforts to end the conflict in the country in the south of the Arabian Peninsula had failed. Without the participation of the Houthis, hopes are slim again this time. However, aid organizations are calling for a quick solution in view of the dramatic humanitarian situation. The UN warns that the already severe hunger crisis in Yemen could worsen.

The ceasefire begins on the same day as Ramadan, the holy month of fasting for Muslims. The UN had previously called for a ceasefire at this time. The Houthis also offered a temporary truce.

In 2014, the Houthi rebels overran large parts of Yemen, including the capital Sanaa. Since 2015, Saudi Arabia has been conducting a military operation against the Houthi with other countries on the side of the internationally recognized government. The Sunni kingdom sees them as an ally of its Shiite nemesis Iran.

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