ANSD : Head of UN monitors arrives in Sanaa

TUE 26 - 11 - 2024

Date: Dec 23, 2018
Source: The Daily Star

Head of UN monitors arrives in Sanaa

_{Agence France Presse}
SANAA: The head of the U.N. team tasked with monitoring a fragile cease-fire in Yemen arrived in the rebel-held capital of Sanaa Sunday, an AFP photographer said.

Retired Dutch general Patrick Cammaert is heading a joint committee including members of the government and the Houthi rebels, in charge of monitoring a cease-fire in the port city of Hodeida.

Cammaert was greeted by head of the Houthi delegation, Ali al-Mushki, and a number of other members of the U.N. team at Sanaa international airport. He did not comment upon arrival.

He is making a stop in Sanaa before heading to Hodeida, a lifeline port city that serves as the entry point for the majority of imports to war-torn Yemen, a U.N. official said, after holding talks Saturday with Yemen government officials in Aden.

On Saturday, Cammaert urged the government and the Arab coalition backing the loyalists to uphold the cease-fire that came into effect last week, said U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

He also "sought their commitment and cooperation to secure the unhindered flow of humanitarian aid," said Dujarric, adding that Cammaert will "convey similar messages" to the Houthis in Sanaa.

On Friday, the U.N. Security Council unanimously approved a resolution authorising the deployment of observers to Hodeida, which is held by the rebels and has been subjected to an offensive by pro-government forces.

A halt to fighting in the strategic port city follows intense diplomatic efforts which culminated in peace talks earlier this month in Sweden, where the warring parties agreed to the truce which came into force Tuesday.

The cease-fire remained shaky, however, with both sides accusing each other of violations in Hodeida province.

The U.N. monitoring team aims to secure the functioning of Hodeida port and supervise the withdrawal of fighters from the city.

The text approved by the Security Council "insists on the full respect by all parties of the cease-fire agreed" for Hodeida.

It authorizes the United Nations to "establish and deploy, for an initial period of 30 days from the adoption of this resolution, an advance team to begin monitoring" the cease-fire, under Cammaert's leadership.

Around 10,000 people have been killed since the Arab coalition's intervention, according to the World Health Organization, although rights groups say the death toll could be five times higher.

The conflict has unleashed a major humanitarian crisis and pushed 14 million Yemenis to the brink of famine.

Readers Comments (0)

Add your comment

Enter the security code below*


Can't read this? Try Another.