Saudi coalition and Houthi rebels "intend to respect" UN truce for Yemen
The ceasefire between the parties, mediated by the United Nations, enters into force today. Later this month peace talks will be held in Kuwait. Yesterday, 20 people died in crossfire. The conflict has killed more than 6,200 people, at least two million displaced people. Risk of "humanitarian catastrophe" in the country.
Sanaa (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Saudi-led coalition supporting government forces in Yemen and the Houthi rebels are both determined to "respect" the ceasefire, mediated by the United Nations, which comes into effect from today. Official sources and a spokesman for the coalition of Shiite rebels, close to Iran, have confirmed the entry into force of the ceasefire.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) more than 6,200 people have been killed and at least two million displaced in a year of fighting. The United Nations warns of a strong risk of "humanitarian catastrophe" in Yemen.
International diplomacy is stepping up efforts to find a hard-won agreement between the parties. By the end of April it peace talks are slated to begin, to be held in Kuwait.
The UN special envoy in Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed welcomed the respite calling it "critical, urgent and very necessary". "Yemen - he added - cannot cope with the loss of more lives." In the context of the ceasefire, the Parties undertake to allow the entry of humanitarian aid and supplies to the most vulnerable areas.
Responding to an appeal by President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, the Saudi coalition claims to "respect the cease-fire", while reserving "the right to respond" to any rebel attacks.
Only yesterday, a few hours after the entry into force of the ceasefire, 20 people died in the crossfire between the parties.
Since January 2015, Yemen has been the scene of a bloody civil war pitting the country’s Sunni leadership, backed by Saudi Arabia, against Shia Houthi rebels, close to Iran.
In March 2015, a Saudi-led coalition launched air strikes against the rebels in an attempt to free the capital For Saudi Arabia, the Houthis, who are allied to forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, are militarily supported by Iran, a charge the latter angrily rejects.
Groups linked to al Qaeda and jihadist militias linked to the Islamic State group are active in the country, which adds to the spiral of violence and terror.
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