clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

UN: Yemen warring parties make 'significant progress' on truce

May 14, 2020 at 9:34 pm

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres holds a press conference at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, United States on August 01, 2019 [Atılgan Özdil – Anadolu Agency]

The warring parties in Yemen have made “significant progress” toward agreeing a ceasefire, UN Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths told the Security Council on Thursday, Reuters reports.

Griffiths made a renewed push for a truce in Yemen after a call by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ on March 23 for a ceasefire in global conflicts so the world can focus on fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

He gave the government of Yemen and the Houthi group – who have been fighting for more than five years – draft proposals on a nationwide ceasefire, humanitarian and economic measures, and the urgent resumption of the political process.

“We have seen significant progress on these negotiations, in particular with respect to the national, nationwide ceasefire,” Griffiths told the 15-member Security Council.

“However, the ceasefire is part of the broader package that needs to be agreed in full. And differences remain on some of the humanitarian and economic measures in that package,” he said.

READ: UAE-backed forces call for ‘rebellion against Yemen government’

Griffiths said those humanitarian and economic measures were also needed to combat the coronavirus “which is spreading at an unknown rate, given very low levels of testing.”

Around 80% of Yemen’s population – 24 million people – need humanitarian aid and aid groups fear a catastrophic outbreak of the coronavirus given Yemen’s shattered health system and the widespread hunger and disease after years of conflict.

Deputy UN aid chief Ramesh Rajasingham said there were so far 72 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including 13 deaths. The new coronavirus causes the respiratory illness COVID-19 and has killed hundred of thousands of people globally.

Yemen has been mired in conflict since the Iran-allied Houthi group ousted President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s government from the capital Sanaa in 2014. A Saudi-led military coalition in 2015 intervened in a bid to restore the government.

“The people of Yemen are right to be frustrated about the slow pace of these negotiations. We all hope to see these negotiations soon come to a successful close,” Griffiths said.

READ: Sources claim Yemen COVID-19 cases higher than reported