A UN-brokered two-month ceasefire in Yemen began on Sunday with warring parties agreeing to avoid conflict as the Holy Month of Ramadan begins, with President Biden praising Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic efforts in a statement.
The ceasefire is the biggest step forward toward lasting peace since the war began seven years ago, as Houthi rebels ousted the UN-recognized government of President Hadi and have fought international efforts to restore him with backing from Iran.
The terms of the truce include facilitating the entry of 18 fuel ships into the ports of Hodeida and allowing two commercial flights a week to and from Sana’a airport to predetermined destinations. The terms also include convening a meeting between the parties to agree on opening roads in the city of Taiz and elsewhere to improve civilians’ freedom of movement inside Yemen.
A peaceful end to Yemen’s war has proven to be elusive.
“I welcome the announcement today of a two-month truce in the Yemen conflict. This initiative is a long-awaited reprieve for the Yemeni people…I am grateful for the leadership role of Saudi Arabia and Oman in bringing this initiative to fruition before the Holy Month of Ramadan. I am also grateful for the hard work of the Yemeni Government and the confidence they have placed in UN-led mediation. The United States of America will work to deter threats to our friends and partners as we continue to strive for de-escalation and peace throughout the region,” President Biden said in a White House statement.
“The United States of America will work to deter threats to our friends and partners as we continue to strive for de-escalation and peace throughout the region. I wish the people of Yemen a peaceful Ramadan, and assure them of our ongoing commitment to help end this terrible war,” Biden said.
Temporary cease-fires and new peace plans have been implemented before, only to fail. There is greater optimism that this plan will hold and that relief will begin to reach Yemeni people. Over 20 million people – two-thirds of the population – are now reliant on humanitarian aid, including two million children facing acute malnutrition.
“The aim of this truce is to give Yemenis a necessary break from violence, relief from the humanitarian suffering, and most importantly hope that an end to this conflict is possible,” UN special envoy Hans Grundberg said, emphasizing the need to build on the cease-fire toward a lasting peace.
Ending the war in Yemen was a campaign promise from the Biden Administration, but quick successes proved elusive to U.S. officials dispatched to find a diplomatic end to the war.
