SANAA, Yemen, May 11 (NNN-SABA) – The United Nations said that, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have agreed to unilaterally redeploy forces out of three key ports in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, within four days beginning today (Saturday).
The UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA) “will monitor and report on this unilateral redeployment, due to begin today (Saturday), and be completed by Tuesday,” said Michael Lollesgaard, head of the team of UN observers and monitors, in a UN statement.
This was “a first practical step on the ground” since the agreement reached between Yemeni warring parties in Stockholm in Dec, 2018, Lollesgaard noted.
The Stockholm deal was considered the first breakthrough in the civil conflict in Yemen for the past four years.
According to the statement, the Houthi rebels agreed to withdraw from the Hodeidah main port, and the ports of Salif, which is used for importing grains, and Ras Issa, which is used for exporting crude oil.
“This unilateral redeployment should allow for establishing a UN-led role, in supporting the Red Sea Ports Corporation in managing the ports, as well as, for enhancing the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism (UNVIM), in accordance with the Agreement,” Lollesgaard added.
The statement gave no details on any government reaction in return.
Both warring parties have largely obeyed the cease-fire deal, but failed to withdraw forces from the city.
Hodeidah has been the focus of clashes since 2017.– NNN-SABA
