United Nations: Houthi besieged Yemeni people and threatens truce
The United Nations has warned that the Houthi militia is threatening to destroy the truce that has been in effect in Yemen for more than two months because of its ongoing siege of the governorate of Taiz. The UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, demanded that the Houthi militias in Yemen maintain the fragile truce in the country by helping to reopen the roads leading to the southwestern city of Taiz, saying: “The Yemeni government supports UN plans to reopen the Habwan road to the government-controlled city, but the Houthis, who consider the roads a front line in the war, are slowing down”.
Houthi intransigence
The National reports that closed roads leading to Taiz and other cities have become a sticking point in talks over the April 1 truce between the warring parties in Yemen that has raised hopes for an end to years of death and destruction. “While I am encouraged by the positive response from the Yemeni government to the UN proposal, I am still waiting for a response from the Houthis”, Grundberg said. “After the constructive discussions I had in Sana (the Houthi-controlled Yemeni capital) last weekend, I urge them to respond positively without delay to the UN proposals”, he added.
The Houthis reportedly said they could not move their forces from a frontline position outside the government-held city.
Fragility of the truce
Says Grundberg: The long and arduous mountain road from Sana’a to Taiz takes twice as long as the three-hour direct main road but is closed. The difficulty of accessing the city crippled the economy and denied some local residents access to medical care.
Grandberg said: The disruption exposed the fragility of the truce between the Houthis and the government, which was extended on June 2 and could risk delay in implementation by completely dismantling it. So far, intermittent negotiations between senior Saudi officials and the Houthis resumed last month ahead of a planned renewal of the UN-brokered truce.
