The UN special envoy for Yemen announced on Saturday that both the Saudi-backed Yemeni government and Iran-aligned Houthis have committed to taking steps towards a cease-fire.
The conflict between the Houthis, who control northern Yemen, and the Saudi-led military alliance has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people and has left 80% of Yemen’s population reliant on humanitarian aid.
The envoy, Hans Grundberg, stated that he welcomes the parties’ commitment to implementing a nationwide cease-fire, improving living conditions in Yemen, and engaging in preparations for an inclusive political process under UN auspices.
Grundberg will work with the parties to establish a roadmap under UN auspices that includes these commitments and supports their implementation.
The roadmap will also include the parties’ 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 Saudi-led military coalition intervened in Yemen more than eight years ago after the Houthi movement ousted Yemen’s internationally recognized, Saudi-backed government from the capital, Sanaa, in 2014.
The Yemeni government’s foreign ministry welcomed the special envoy’s statement on the efforts to end the war caused by the Houthi militia, while the Houthi movement did not immediately comment when contacted by Reuters.
The peace initiatives gained momentum after Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to reestablish ties in a deal brokered by China, and a permanent cease-fire in Yemen would mark a milestone in stabilizing the Middle East.
Grundberg expressed his appreciation for the key roles played by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman in supporting the parties to reach this point, and urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint at this critical time to allow for a conducive environment for dialogue and the successful conclusion of an agreement on the roadmap.