UN official criticises Yemen ceasefire

A UN humanitarian aid official criticised the long term effectiveness of the 72-hour ceasefire between Yemen’s warring sides, set to be implemented tonight.

UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, Jamie McGoldrick, reminded the international community that Yemen’s economy has collapsed, food, goods and aid are unable to enter the country due to the damaged Hodeidah port and only about half of hospitals are even partially operating. He went on to highlight the cholera outbreak that began three weeks ago and is at risk of spreading.

While he welcomed the ceasefire as a first step, he has urged longer-term access for humanitarian relief.

McGoldrick told reporters in Geneva that OCHA will focus on reaching previously inaccessible “pockets” of the frontline city of the besieged city of Taiz during the truce.

Yemen has been locked in a bitter battle between Shia Houthi fighters allied with forces loyal to ousted President Ali Abdullah Saleh and government forces led by President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, along with local tribes and resistance forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition’s airstrikes.