Humanitarian organisations call for extension of UN-brokered truce in Yemen

Humanitarian organisations call for extension of UN-brokered truce in Yemen

Relief organisations operating in Yemen have called on Tuesday to extend the current truce in the war-torn country, which expires on Thursday, at a time when the two sides of the conflict have expressed no objection to such an extension.

“We urge you to extend the armistice agreement and to move forward to add to the gains made over the past two months and to work for peace for Yemenis,” the more than 30 organisations, including the Norwegian Refugee Council, said in a statement.

The statement continued: “We saw the positive humanitarian effects of the truce. In the first month of the truce alone, the number of dead or wounded in Yemen decreased by more than 50%, and due to the regular entry of fuel ships to the port of Hodeidah the people are no longer standing in queues.”

On 2 April, a truce brokered by the United Nations, entered into force, to last for two months. The agreement included allowing commercial flights from Sana’a International Airport, which had been open only to humanitarian aid flights since 2016.

Despite repeated Saudi violations of the ceasefire and obstacles in implementing some points, the truce marked a major step forward for the people of Yemen.