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UN tells Yemen parties to pull back from Hodeida
UNITED NATIONS, United States, April 18, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – The UN Security
Council on Thursday urged Yemen’s government and Huthi rebels to pull back
their forces from the key city of Hodeida “as soon as possible” in line with
a ceasefire deal reached four months ago.
The council warned in a unanimous statement that it will “monitor the
parties’ compliance with the redeployment plans” as it awaits a report by UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on whether the sides are upholding
commitments.
The redeployment of forces was agreed in December under a ceasefire deal
reached in Sweden that offered the best hope in years of moving toward an end
to the war that has pushed Yemen to the brink of famine.
The council expressed “grave concern” that four months on, the agreements
have not been implemented, but there was no threat of sanctions against those
who are blocking the peace effort.
UN envoy Martin Griffiths told the council on Monday that the government
and rebels had agreed to the operational details of the first long-delayed
pullback of forces from Hodeida.
The United Nations announced a deal on the two-stage pullback from Hodeida
city and its ports in February, but the redeployment failed to materialize on
the ground and the peace effort has since stalled.
BSS/AFP/MSY/0854 hrs