Yemen’s warring parties commit to ceasefire steps
- The Saudi-backed government and Iran-aligned Houthis have been embroiled for years in a conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands
- The 2 sides have agreed to a UN-led peace process, in what would be a milestone in stabilising the Middle East
The Saudi-backed Yemeni government and Iran-aligned Houthis have both committed to steps towards a ceasefire, the UN special envoy for Yemen said on Saturday.
The Houthis, which control north Yemen, have been fighting against a Saudi-led military alliance since 2015 in a conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands and left 80 per cent of Yemen’s population dependent on humanitarian aid.
The UN special envoy, Hans Grundberg, in a statement issued by his office said he “welcomes the parties’ commitment to a set of measures to implement a nationwide ceasefire, improve living conditions in Yemen, and engage in preparations for the resumption of an inclusive political process under UN auspices”.
Grundberg “will now engage with the parties to establish a road map under UN auspices that includes these commitments and supports their implementation”, the statement said.
The road map, along with a ceasefire, will also include the two sides’ commitment to resume oil exports, pay all public sector salaries, open roads in Taiz and other parts of Yemen, and “further ease restrictions on Sanaa Airport and the Hudaydah port”, the statement said.
