Yemen's warring sides agree to renew a two-month truce، UN says
Yemen's warring sides agreed to renew a two-month truce expiring on Tuesday، the United Nations envoy said، despite international pressure for an extended and expanded
deal that would build on the longest stretch of relative calm in over seven years.
Yemen's warring sides agree to renew a two-month truce، UN says
“This truce extension includes a commitment from the parties to intensify negotiations to reach an expanded truce agreement as soon as possible،” special envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg said in a statement.
Grundberg had been pushing for a six-month truce with additional measures، according to Reuters sources، but both sides have had grievances about the implementation of the existing truce deal first agreed in April and mistrust runs deep.
US and Omani officials had also been engaging with parties to back Grundberg's proposal following a visit by President Joe Biden to Saudi Arabia last month، where he announced following bilateral talks an agreement to “deepen and extend” the truce.
Biden، welcoming the renewal of the truce، said that while it was an important step and essential to saving lives it “is not enough in the long run.”
Yemen's warring sides agree to renew a two-month truce، UN says
“We urge the Yemeni parties to seize this opportunity to work constructively under UN auspices to reach an inclusive، comprehensive agreement that includes steps to improve freedom of movement and expanded salary payments and that paves the way for a durable، Yemeni-led resolution to the conflict،” he said.
The conflict has killed tens of thousands and caused millions to go hungry.
The Saudi foreign ministry said on Wednesday the truce primarily aimed to establish a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire and “start the political process” between the internationally recognised government and the Houthis.
It urged the movement to comply with terms regarding port revenues and to swiftly reopen roads in disputed Taiz، effectively under Houthi siege.
The Saudi-backed government blamed the Houthis for not reopening the main roads in Taiz.
Grundberg said he would intensify engagement with the parties in the coming weeks to ensure full implementation.
An expanded truce، he said، would offer a mechanism to pay public sector salaries، the opening of roads، expanded flights from Sanaa and a regular flow of fuel to Hodeidah. The UN is also pushing for a permanent ceasefire to enable the resumption of talks for a sustainable political resolution.
Sanaa resident Sufian al-Thawr said that without further measures to address economic woes and secure broader negotiations the truce would be ““merely a warrior's break” and that hostilities would return.
Soaring food prices risk tipping more people into hunger as funding shortages have forced the UN to cut food rations.
“We want a truce that improves our standard of living،” said school teacher Elham Abdullah who lives in Aden، where the government is based after being ousted from Sanaa by the Houthis in late 2014.
University student Tah Abdul-Kareem said more was needed but “still، it is better than a return to war.”