ADEN, Dec 19 (NNN-SABA) – Representatives from Yemen’s government and the Houthis, tasked with monitoring a ceasefire, brokered by the United Nations met on a ship, on the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah.
An official of the military in Hodeidah said that, “representatives of the two-warring sides boarded a ship and jointly participated in a meeting, chaired by General Abhijit Goha, head of the UN’s mission.”
He said, a delegation of Yemen’s government, led by Major General Mohammed Aida, attended the meeting with another delegation representing the Houthis.
The source pointed out that, “the meeting was the seventh of its kind and held on board a UN ship on the Red Sea, due to the inability of the government delegation to enter the Houthi-controlled city of Hodeidah.”
Another source of the government’s delegation said, “the meeting will continue for two days on the ship, to discuss the second phase of the military redeployment and implementing the ceasefire deal in Hodeidah.”
In Oct, the UN started deploying cease-fire observers in Hodeidah, establishing five observation points near the military contact lines between the two warring parties.
The observation points are manned by liaison officers from both parties, in accordance with the cease-fire agreement reached last year in Sweden, that also called on both warring sides to move forces away from ports and parts of the strategic city.
As the main Yemeni port along the coast of the Red Sea, Hodeidah is the key lifeline entry of most of Yemen’s commercial imports and humanitarian aid.
The cease-fire deal was seen as the first phase towards achieving a comprehensive political solution to the civil war.– NNN-SABA
