US Special Envoy Says Yemen Truce Paves Way to End Conflict
A ceasefire between the coalition and the Houthi rebels in Yemen has ushered in a new era of peace. The US special envoy for Yemen says the truce paves the way to a permanent end to the conflict in Yemen. The ceasefire was facilitated by diplomatic efforts led by the United Nations. The UN envoy called the truce “long overdue,” considering the more than one hundred thousand civilians who have died in the conflict. The conflict in Yemen has claimed the lives of more than one hundred thousand people. According to the United Nations’ Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, the death toll from this conflict in Yemen has surpassed one hundred and fifty thousand.
Since the last UNSC meeting, Yemen’s political and security conditions have improved. A recent ceasefire has opened up the Hudaydah port for tankers, and the reopening of the Sana’a airport is an indication of progress. But despite these positive developments, much more remains to be done to ensure a sustainable peace.
Meanwhile, the U.S. special envoy has offered to negotiate with five permanent Security Council members to find a way to end the conflict in Yemen by April 2 2022. In the meantime, the United Nations has stressed the importance of continuing efforts to end the conflict. A ceasefire has alleviated humanitarian conditions. Although the hostilities have not stopped completely, the number of civilian casualties has fallen to their lowest levels in months.
The United Nations-led truce in Yemen has paved the way for a long-term peace agreement between the warring parties. The truce will enable fuel shipments to Hodeida and passenger flights to resume from Sanaa. Despite the uncertainty, however, the truce is a positive step towards a lasting peace.
The US special envoy to Yemen Hans Grunberg is hopeful that the agreement signed on Friday will pave the way for a negotiated end to the war. The truce comes at the perfect time, as the holy month of Ramadan has been an important factor in the conflict. This agreement also lays the foundation for the eventual end of the conflict, which will be the first time since March last year.
Meanwhile, the UN has made a major move forward, recommending additional economic and humanitarian aid. The country is facing an economic crisis, and humanitarian assistance alone will not suffice until the root causes are addressed. Yemenis do not deserve to see their hopes dashed. But the US special envoy did not congratulate the coalition on their decision.
The Yemen truce has already produced promising signs, including the reduction of violence. There have been no confirmed airstrikes since the ceasefire was implemented. In addition, more fuel is flowing through the ports in the Hudaydah region and commercial flights are preparing to take off from Sana’a airport. However, reports of military operations around Marib must be addressed through truce mechanisms to prevent a new escalation.