Ceasefire in Yemen comes into effect

A CEASFIRE proposed by the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen has come into effect, potentially paving the way for an end to the more than five-year-old conflict.

There was no official word on the ceasefire from the Houthis, raising concerns whether the initiative could translate into concrete changes on the ground. In initial comments, one senior Houthi member said it was a ploy by Saudi Arabia to boost its international standing, while a rebel spokesman accused the coalition of several attacks yesterday.

Saudi officials said late on Wednesday that the ceasefire would last for two weeks and that it was in response to UN calls to halt hostilities amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The initiative could also be an attempt by the monarchy to pull out of a financially and politically costly war.

Saudi deputy defence minister Prince Khalid bin Salman said that it would “hopefully create a more effective climate to de-escalate tensions” and enable the sides to work towards a settlement.

He said Saudi Arabia would contribute 500 million dollars to UN relief efforts in Yemen this year, and an additional 25 million dollars to combat the pandemic. “It is up to Houthis to put the health and safety of the Yemeni people above all else,” the prince wrote.

The Saudi-led coalition has been fighting the Houthis since 2015 on behalf of the Un-backed government of Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

The conflict has killed more than 100,000 people and created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, leaving millions suffering from food and medical care shortages and pushing the country to the brink of famine.

In 2014, Houthi rebels had overrun most of the country’s north including the capital Sanaa, forcing Mr Hadi’s government to flee.