UN envoy calls on Yemen’s sides to ‘avoid return to war’

SMA NEWS – NEW YORK
The UN special envoy for Yemen said on Monday that he is stepping up efforts to reach an expanded truce between the country’s warring sides.

Hans Grundberg told the UN Security Council in New York that he hoped efforts would lead to the start of talks on a ceasefire and preparations for resuming a Yemeni-led political process.

A two-month extension of an existing truce that began on April 2 was agreed by the internationally recognised government and Iran-backed Houthi rebels on August 2.

This has resulted in the longest pause in fighting since Yemen’s civil war began in 2014.
Mr Grundberg said a commitment by the two sides to try to reach an expanded truce agreement by October 2 could further improve the lives of Yemenis facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

Earlier this month, the UN envoy said an expanded truce would offer a mechanism to pay public sector salaries, the opening of more roads, expanded flights from the capital Sanaa and regular flow of fuel to the Red Sea port of Hodeidah.

Failure to extend the truce “would lead to renewed cycles of escalation and violence,” he warned in Monday’s video briefing.

“Yemen urgently needs to avoid this scenario and I call on the parties to make the choice to build the necessary confidence to avoid a return to war and to begin to build a lasting peace,” said Mr Grundberg.