The Saudi-led military coalition, which intervenes in Yemen in support of government forces, announced a two-week ceasefire from Thursday, April 9 at 11 a.m. (Paris time), to prevent a spread of coronavirus.
Faced with the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, Yemen, the poorest country in the Arabian Peninsula, has so far officially registered no cases of infection with Covid-19 disease. But humanitarian organizations fear a catastrophe if the country were affected by the new coronavirus. With a bloodless health system and a shortage of drinking water, Yemen has already been hit by epidemics, such as dengue or cholera.
Despite a United Nations (UN) call for a ceasefire in March, violence has recently escalated in this country ravaged by armed conflict. "We are announcing a cease-fire from (Thursday) for two weeks. We expect that (rebels) houtists accept. We are preparing the ground to fight Covid-19 disease ”said a Saudi official on Wednesday.
The Houtist rebels, supported by Iran, did not react immediately to this offer. The coalition firmly intends to respect the two weeks of ceasefire, while reserving the right to defend itself in the event of an attack, the Saudi official said. The ceasefire can be extended if the houtists respond "Positively" at the gesture of the coalition, he added.
"Engage in negotiations"
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres welcomed the announcement of the military coalition, which "Can help advance peace efforts and the country's response to the Covid-19 pandemic". "It is only through dialogue that the parties will be able to agree on a mechanism to maintain a cease-fire on a national scale" and on "The resumption of a political process to reach a comprehensive settlement" of the conflict, said Antonio Guterres in a press release. On March 23, he launched an appeal "To an immediate ceasefire, anywhere in the world" in order to preserve, facing the "Fury" Covid-19, the most vulnerable civilians in countries at war.
He invited Wednesday "The government and the houtists to engage, in good faith and without preconditions, in negotiations" facilitated by the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths. The latter in turn called the belligerents to "Seize this opportunity and immediately cease all hostilities", in a press release.
The war in Yemen has pitted local adversaries for five years, supported by rival regional powers. The government recognized by the international community, supported since 2015 by a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia, is fighting against the houtists. The war has left tens of thousands of people dead, mostly civilians, according to various non-governmental organizations, and about 24 million Yemenis, more than two-thirds of the population, are in need of humanitarian aid, according to the United Nations.
