Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Head of UN Monitors Arrives in Yemen’s Rebel-Held Sanaa

Head of UN Monitors Arrives in Yemen’s Rebel-Held Sanaa

SANAA - The head of the UN team tasked with monitoring a fragile ceasefire in Yemen’s port city of Hodeida arrived in the rebel-held capital Sanaa on Sunday, an AFP photographer said.
Retired Dutch general Patrick Cammaert is heading a joint committee including members of the government and the Huthi rebels, in charge of monitoring a truce in the Red Sea city and its surroundings.
Cammaert was greeted by the head of the Huthi delegation, Ali al-Mushki, and a number of other members of the UN team at Sanaa international airport.
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 UN official said.
On Saturday, Cammaert arrived in Aden where he held talks with Yemen government officials.
During those talks he urged Yemeni leaders and the Saudi-led coalition backing the loyalists to uphold the ceasefire that came into effect last week, said UN 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 Huthis in Sanaa.
On Friday, the UN 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.
Both the government and the rebels backed the resolution on Friday.
Rebel negotiator Mohammed Abdelsalam said it marked “an important step towards stopping the aggression and lifting the blockade”.
He was referring to the Saudi-led military coalition that intervened in 2015 and imposed a blockade on Yemeni waters and airports.  (AFP)