UNSC hails Yemen truce renewal

The UN Security Council on Friday welcomed the extension of the truce between the Yemeni government and the Houthis, which was agreed a day earlier.

The council members reiterated their appreciation of the steps taken by all sides to uphold the truce, which began on April 2 and has now been extended for another two months. It has led to “real and tangible benefits” for the Yemeni people, they said, including a significant reduction in civilian casualties and the improved flow of humanitarian aid.

In a joint statement, they welcomed the Yemeni government’s flexibility in allowing ships carrying fuel to enter Hodeidah port, and enabling international flights to resume between Sanaa, Amman and Cairo. They also commended regional partners for their support.

However, council members expressed concern about grave humanitarian effects of ongoing road closures around Taiz and called on the Iran-backed militia “to act with flexibility in negotiations and immediately open the main roads.”

Taiz governorate has been under siege since 2015, when the Houthis closed main routes and encircled the city center, largely cutting it off from the rest of the country. It remains under siege despite this week’s extension of a truce between the militia and government forces.

The spokesperson of the UN Commission on Human Rights also reiterated the commission's repeated request for the reopening of the city, warning that the consequences of the blockade is "dire".

Residents of Taiz hope UN-sponsored talks in Amman will end in a deal that enables them to go to work and school and facilitate the flow of aid and goods.

Taiz governorate has a population of 5 million, including 400,000 the city. The Houthis control the governorate’s industrial areas, and the road closures have driven up food and fuel prices and disrupted access to basic services.