Sana’a, 3 June 2022 (TDI): The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, announced a two-month truce extension between the Yemeni government and Houthi insurgents.
Parties in #Yemen have agreed to a renew their two-month truce, the UN Special Envoy @OSE_Yemen announced on Thursday.https://t.co/f73BpcSXvA
— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) June 3, 2022
The decision has demonstrated that a peaceful resolution to this dreadful conflict is conceivable. The agreement to implement and renew the truce are positive steps toward long-term peace for Yemenis.
The extension takes effect on the same terms as the original UN-brokered deal. This agreement that went into effect had begun on the 2nd of April. According to the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, the people of Yemen have seen the real benefits of the cease-fire during the last two months.
The number of civilians killed has decreased dramatically. The port of Hudaydah has seen a significant rise in fuel deliveries. After nearly six years, commercial flights have also restarted at Sana’a’s major airport.
The parties had been meeting face-to-face under UN auspices prior to the truce renewal. It was the first time they had met in years. The purpose of the meeting was to make progress on the opening of roads in Taiz and other war-torn governorates.
This was also done to put in place military de-escalation procedures across the country. The UN Special Envoy for Yemen praised the parties for taking these actions and agreed to keep the cease-fire in place.
As a result, the cease-fire marks a dramatic change in the war’s trajectory. The accomplishment came as a result of the parties’ prudent and bold decision-making. He went on to say that more needs to be done, particularly in terms of road openings and commercial flight operations.
UN engagement continues
The UN envoy will continue to work with the parties to completely consolidate all aspects of the cease-fire. They will continue engagement to reach a long-term political solution to the conflict.
The UN Special Envoy for Yemen urged all parties to continue collaborating in good faith in order to foster confidence. He noted that they must take concrete actions to ensure a peaceful future for all Yemenis. He also thanked the international community for its assistance in implementing and renewing the cease-fire.
Further, he specifically cited the backing of Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the members of the UN Security Council. He also expressed gratitude to Egypt and Jordan for the assistance they have shown. They allowed international commercial flights to resume from Sana’a airport.
The prolongation of the cease-fire was also hailed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. He mentioned the changes that have occurred since April. He urged the parties to complete the full implementation of the cease-fire terms as soon as possible.
This is to protect the interests of all Yemenis, who are still suffering from one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Philippe Duamelle, Yemen’s representative to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said the truce extension is also good news for Yemen’s boys and girls. He expressed the hope that this would lead to long-term peace in Yemen.
Therefore, this is the only means to save the lives of children. According to Yemen’s UNICEF official, this will also prevent extra suffering and distress for families caught up in the conflict.
