UN urges Yemen parties to respect ceasefire accord
The two sides exchanged accusations of violating the ceasefire accord that took effect on Friday
DUBAI: The UN’s envoy to Yemen called on Sunday for progovernment forces and rebels to respect a ceasefire in the Red Sea port city of Hodeida, after repeated clashes between the two sides threatened to unravel a hard-won accord hammered out in Sweden last week.
“The special envoy expects the two parties to respect their obligations as per the text and spirit of the Stockholm Agreement and to engage in the immediate implementation of its provisions,” envoy Martin Griffiths tweeted.
He said the UN was working with Yemen’s Saudi-backed government and Houthi rebels to ensure the accord on Hodeida reached on Thursday was “implemented timely and properly”.
Clashes shook Hodeida on Sunday after air strikes and deadly fighting on the outskirts overnight, residents said.
UN chief Antonio Guterres warned that “much worse” lay in store for the impoverished country in 2019 unless its warring parties strike a peace deal and head off a humanitarian crisis.
The two sides exchanged accusations of violating the ceasefire accord that took effect on Friday but which quickly came under pressure.
A resident of the city reached by telephone said that the clashes were “fierce” and the sounds of jets could be heard throughout the night until about 5 am (0200 GMT) on Sunday.
Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also reported ongoing fighting in the city, home to a lifeline port. “There are sounds of jets and air strikes, but we don’t know what they are targeting,” he said by telephone.
At least 29 fighters, including 22 Houthi rebels and seven progovernment troops, were killed on Saturday night in clashes and air strikes in Hodeida province, a pro-government military source said. No other sources could confirm the death toll.
The pro-government source added that seven rebels were captured during a Houthi attack on Al Durayhimi district, which lies about 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of Hodeida city.
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