Yemenis fear collapse of ceasefire accord
Under the terms of the accord, an ‘immediate’ ceasefire must be implemented in Hodeida and fighters are due to withdraw in the next few days
HODEIDA(Yemen): Residents of Yemen’s flashpoint port of Hodeida and other cities fear a UNbrokered ceasefire could collapse at any moment, saying that after four years of conflict any accord is deeply fragile.
On Friday morning, a day after the breakthrough agreement was penned in Sweden by representatives of the Yemeni government and the Houthi rebels, many held their breath. The Red Sea port of Hodeida, a main frontline between rebels and loyalist forces backed by a Saudi-led military coalition and key conduit of aid, had woken to calm after weeks of confrontation.
But hours later scattered clashes broke with artillery and machinegun exchanges heard through the south and east of the city, residents said. It was the first test of the fragile ceasefire.
Saturday morning saw calm return to Hodeida, but shops and schools remained shuttered as gunmen deployed in the south and east. “I was so happy they had reached a solution for Hodeida but our happiness was short lived,” 28-year-old Hodeida resident Noha Ahmad said after the clashes.
Omar Hassan, 40, said residents of the beleaguered city have been “desperately waiting for calm and security to be restored”.
“Now we are afraid that clashes will return and persist,” he said.
Thursday’s ceasefire accord has been seen as the most significant step towards ending Yemen’s devastating conflict, but analysts warned its success depends on sustained international pressure.
Under the terms of the accord, an “immediate” ceasefire must be implemented in Hodeida and fighters are due to withdraw in the next few days.
A prisoner swap involving some 15,000 detainees is planned and a “mutual understanding” struck to facilitate aid deliveries to Yemen’s third city Taiz -- under control of loyalists but besieged by rebels.
The two sides also agreed to meet again in late January, for more talks to define the framework for negotiations on a comprehensive peace settlement.
But for some Hodeida residents Thursday’s hard-won accord will come to nought.
“We don’t expect the enemy to abide by the agreement because the enemy is treacherous and not peaceful,” said Mohammed Abdo, a fighter patrolling a Hodeida street and holding a rifle. “Peace comes through guns,” he said.
Elsewhere in the city -- in central and northern districts -- it was business as usual on Saturday with markets thronged with shoppers, but even there residents were cautious.
Full story @ timesofoman.com/world