UN envoy: Truce in Yemen still holding

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
11 Jul 2022 20:16

Grundberg's report was contradicted by the head of the Sanaa negotiating delegation who highlighted the continued killing and siege, in a flagrant violation of the truce.

UN envoy to Yemen: The truce in Yemen is still holding.

The UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, confirmed that "the truce in Yemen has been holding for more than 3 months." He said, "The number of civilian casualties reduced by two-thirds compared to the three months before the truce began."

Grundberg added, in a briefing to the Security Council today, Monday, that "since the second of last June, since the truce renewal, seven fuel ships carrying nearly 200 thousand metric tons of various fuel products have been cleared to enter Hudaydah port."

"My office supports the parties in establishing communication channels to help them manage these alleged incidents in a peaceful manner," he added.

Grundberg explained that "since my last briefing, I have continued to engage the parties, including in Amman and during my recent visits to Riyadh and Muscat, on viable proposals to immediately open roads in Taiz and other governorates. I also continue to draw on the expertise of local mediators and civil society representatives."

He added that "following discussions with the parties, my Office shared an updated proposal on the phased opening of roads. Ansar Allah has since communicated that they do not accept the latest proposal. Still, my efforts to reach a negotiated solution will continue."

Abdul Salam: The Saudi coalition continues to violate the armistice

In contradiction to Grundberg's report, the head of the Sanaa negotiating delegation, Mohammad Abdulsalam, announced that 17 people were killed and others were injured when Saudi border guards shelled Saada, in yet another flagrant violation of the armistice.

Abdulsalam tweeted today that "dozens of martyrs have fallen in Saudi bombing in the border areas during the past week, in a flagrant violation of the ceasefire and continuous obstruction of the armistice by the countries of aggression. Only 15 trips have taken place, with a continuous delay of ships by grounding them at sea, thus doubling the costs."

سقوط عشرات الشهداء في قصف سعودي في مناطق الحدود خلال الأسبوع الماضي في خرق كبير لوقف إطلاق النار، وعرقلة مستمرة للهدنة من قبل دول العدوان، فالرحلات التي تمت بلغت فقط 15 رحلة، وتأخير متواصل للسفن بحجزها عرض البحر مما يضاعف من التكاليف.
— محمد عبدالسلام (@abdusalamsalah) July 11, 2022

Breach of truce

Al Mayadeen counted 13,859 violations of the armistice by the Saudi-appointed Yemeni Presidential Council forces and the Saudi coalition during the first two months of the truce.

Yemen has been under a Saudi-led war for 8 years now. A UN-brokered truce went into force in April but was repeatedly violated by the Saudi-led coalition.

Last month, Deputy Foreign Minister in the Sanaa government, Hussein Al-Ezzi, said in a tweet that the number of flights before the extension of the armistice has not been met.

The Deputy FM explained that there was a "clear and significant breach of the truce," expressing his belief that not rushing to correct this defect "would give Sanaa the full right to review its position."