A pervasive ceasefire has been agreed upon by the warring parties in Yemen for sixty days. According to the UN representative, the Yemen ceasefire would begin with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The United Nations struck the compromise between a Saudi alliance and the Houthi movement three days ago. This is the biggest shift yet toward resolving a war that has resulted in the deaths and starvation of millions. The last time there was a statewide Yemen ceasefire dates back to six years ago during separate peace talks.
The two-month cease-fire kicked off on Saturday, according to UN special envoy. With the two sides’ approval, there is a potential chance of extending the contract after two months. “The parties accepted to halt all offensive military air, ground and maritime operations inside Yemen and across its borders,” Hans Grundberg asserted in a statement.
The two parties also accepted that petroleum ships dock at Hodeidah ports. Besides, Flights to specific regional locations can also travel in and out of Sanaa airport.
UN Secretary-General praised the cease-fire and voiced optimism for a political procedure to secure stability in the middle run. Antonio Guterres also noted that “you must take that momentum in order to make sure that this truce is fully respected and that it is renewed and … that a true political process started.”
A day after Yemen ceasefire, Iranian foreign department voiced optimism that it would be the first move toward putting an end to the fighting in Yemen. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement that the cease-fire will also alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the country. According to Iran, arranging a complete exchange of detainees between the sides in the conflict might be another outcome.
Yemen Ceasefire; Not Permanent
The United Nations has long cautioned that the Yemen war has resulted in the world’s greatest humanitarian crisis. Though accurate data are difficult to come by. the organization believes that before 2022, over 377,000 Yemeni people, mostly civilians, perished as a result of the fighting. Both parties are willing to seek a solution, but the attempts proved infertile during the last year.
Dave Des Roches, a major Fellow at the Gulf International Forum says “I think it’s just strategic exhaustion, the Houthis for a long time have felt that their success was inevitable, but they had a huge setback in Marib [city], which has been besieged for over a year.
“At the same time, you see an expansion into Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi…I think both sides realized, war isn’t going the way we want, we have to settle for half a loaf.”
According to a research released in 2021 by the United Nations Development Programme, nearly 60% of fatalities in Yemen had indirect causes. The key members of this category are famine, hunger, and avoidable illnesses.
Combat and air attacks were responsible for the rest of fatalities. According to the data, minors account for 70% of all mortality. World Food Programme believes that over 16 million Yemeni nationals inside the country face food insecurity, accounting for nearly 45 percent of the nation’s people.
The deterioration of life in Yemen kicked off in Yemen during the civil war in the first half of 2010s. With the intervention of Saudi Arabia and its coalition in the second half, the humanitarian condition led the way into a full-fledged crisis.
Yemen ceasefire may be an end to long years of sufferings across the country. Days and months may better talk the future.
