UN Envoy: Yemeni fighting parties should approve the peace plan
UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths called the Yemeni fighting sides to accept suggestions for a comprehensive ceasefire and launch the political operation that present wide international support.
When he spoke during a meeting before the UN Security Council, Griffiths urged the Iran-backed Houthi group to instantly cease its drones and ballistic missile assaults against civil facilities in Saudi Arabia.
He also expressed thanks to Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the US for the carefully coordinated support that they offer to the suggestion for a peaceful settlement and praised the efforts applied by US envoy Tim Lenderking to stop the division between the parties.
According to Griffiths, the international community is unified in its demand to cease the war in Yemen, adding that there is a convergence of diplomatic voices in favor of an end to the war and its successful political resolution.
Call for a nationwide ceasefire is a priority
The envoy also indicated that the priority is to appeal for a nationwide ceasefire and launch a crucial, essential, unavoidable political process. He also asserted the urgency of progress towards a peaceful settlement makes the continued violence on the ground…all the more concerning.
Griffiths clarified that Marib stills the major center of gravity in this conflict, and the situation is presenting dangerous indications of more escalating. He said: I am also alarmed by multiple drones and ballistic missile attacks carried out by Ansar Allah against Saudi territory but also in Yemeni territory particularly during the past week, including against civilian facilities.
Moreover, the envoy declared that the UN Mission for Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA) is making intensive talks about the resumption of the activities under the covert of the Redeployment Coordination Committee.
Griffiths added: In Hodeidah, impediments to the entry of ships will be lifted, allowing those ships carrying fuel and other crucial commodities to berth, all of them, and to discharge their cargo, indicating that revenues from the tax on these vessels would be put towards civil service salaries. He also said that Sana’a airport would see flights to international and national destinations.
COVID-19 is moving fast
On his part, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mark Lowcock, and when he spoke at the same gathering, alerted that COVID-19 is moving fast, and vaccines won’t be enough to suppress the second wave.
Lowcock also noted that tens of thousands of people are previously hungry to death; with another five million were just a step behind them, demonstrating that March was the deadliest month for civilians until now in 2021. He also indicated that the attack in Marib constitute a severe threat to millions of people, including more than one million internally displaced.
In fact, the situation has escalated in Taiz and Hodeidah, with more civilian fatalities. Lowcock declared that regular UN flights have been approved and would began soon, lauding the efforts of the Yemeni government and the Coalition who are working with us to facilitate that.
Otherwise, the US Representative to the UN, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, affirmed that diplomacy can, should, and must end the war in Yemen. She greeted Saudi Arabia’s March 22 statement of its commitment to achieve a ceasefire and engage in inclusive political discussions to help ceasing the fight.
Besides, the envoy also praised the Yemeni government’s continued commitment for the accomplishment a ceasefire, calling the Houthis to respond and to engage productively. Also, Russian Deputy Permanent Representative, Dmitry Polyanskiy applauded the Saudi initiative to peacefully solve the crisis in Yemen, affirming that it is in accordance with Griffiths’ plan.
