At long last prisoner swop begins
A LONG- AWAITED prisoner swop operation between the Yemeni government and their rival Houthi rebels began yesterday, almost two years after the agreement was initially made.
Five planes took off from Yemen’s Sana’a and Seiyun airports, as well as Saudi Arabia’s Abha airport, as part of the transfer, according to the International Committee of the Red Cross ( ICRC), carrying out the swop.
ICRC described it as the largest operation of its kind during the fiveand- a- half- year war in Yemen.
In September, delegates representing the warring sides agreed to release 1 081 conflict- related detainees and prisoners, following UN- brokered talks in Switzerland.
The plan is part of the 2018 Stockholm Agreement, which included several points that have mostly been stalled since then.
Two planes took off from the Houthi- controlled Sana’a airport this morning, according to the Houthi- affiliated al- Masirah television.
One plane carrying 108 prisoners headed to the government- controlled Seiyun, while another went to Abha, carrying 15 Saudi and four Sudanese prisoners. Within a few hours, three planes landed in Sana’a bringing prisoners released from Seiyun and Abha.
Sources at Sana’a airport said that the first stage of the exchange is expected to see each side release 230 prisoners.
ICRC has been conducting oneon- one interviews and medical checks with the detainees before they board the planes and provided them with personal protection equipment to guard against coronavirus infections at the airports or inside the planes.
UN special envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths, welcomed the exchange, saying it is “another sign that peaceful dialogue can deliver”.
The Houthis and the government have been in conflict since 2014, when the rebels took over the capital Sana’a and other parts of Yemen, driving government members to flee towards the south.
Months later, when the Houthis advanced towards the government’s temporary seat Aden, Saudi Arabia formed an alliance which has been supporting government forces since March 2015.
The Houthis are planning a public celebration to welcome those released by the government.