Yemen conflict: an agreement reached for a two-month truce


The warring parties in the conflict in Yemen, which has pitted pro-government forces against Houthi rebels since 2014, have agreed to a two-month truce starting this Saturday, with the possibility of extending it, the United Nations announced on Friday.

The pro-government forces have been backed for seven years by a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia, while the Houthi rebels are backed by Iran.

Entry into force scheduled for Saturday

“The belligerents have responded positively to the United Nations proposal for a two-month truce which will come into effect tomorrow (Saturday) April 2 at 7 p.m.,” Hans Grundberg, UN envoy for Yemen, said in a statement. adding that it could be “renewed with the consent of the parties”.

The conflict has already claimed more than 380,000 lives

According to the UN, the conflict has caused the death of nearly 380,000 people, the majority of them indirect deaths linked to hunger, disease and lack of drinking water, while millions of others have been displaced. A large part of the population, especially children, is facing acute hunger, with situations close to famine.

The announcement of this truce, which comes into effect on the first day of the holy month of Ramadan, comes after intra-Emenite consultations were held on Wednesday in Riyadh, in the absence of Houthi rebels refusing any dialogue in “enemy” territory.

“The parties have agreed to halt all military air, land and sea offensives in Yemen and beyond its borders,” Hans Grundberg said.

Commercial flights to and from Sanaa allowed

They “also agreed to allow tankers to enter ports in Hodeidah province and commercial flights to operate from and to Sanaa airport, with predetermined destinations in the region”, he said. he continued. Only UN flights are currently allowed through the airport in the Houthi-held capital Sanaa. The coalition controls the air and maritime space of Yemen.

Hans Grundberg, who thanked the belligerents for having negotiated “in good faith”, added that the latter had “agreed to meet under his aegis to open roads to Taiz and other regions of Yemen”. “The purpose of this truce is to give Yemenis a necessary stop to this violence, humanitarian assistance and hope that this conflict can end, which is most important,” he said.

UN chief hopes truce will lead to peace

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres welcomed the truce on Friday, hoping that it would help launch a lasting political peace process in the country.

“We must now use this momentum” to ensure that this truce is “fully respected and that it is renewed”, he said during a meeting with journalists. “It demonstrates that even when things seem impossible, when there is a will to compromise, peace becomes possible,” he added.



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