Yemen: Put the people first, Guterres urged, with a wider and broader intervention |

In a statement on Friday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said it is time for Government forces and their allies, together with the Houthi rebels and their international backers, to “choose peace for good.”

The easing since April 2, has been renewed twice, providing the longest period of relative calm since the beginning of the escalating conflict, in 2015, Mr. Guterres said. In a statement calling for the withdrawal to be extended earlier this month, the Security Council said casualties had dropped 60 per cent since it began.

“I encourage Yemeni groups not only to renew but also to extend the terms and duration of the conflictin accordance with the proposal made to them by my Special Representative, Hans Grundberg.”

In a tweet on Thursday, Mr Grundberg said he had held “hard discussions” in the capital this week, saying that renewal and expansion were “humanitarian and political imperatives.”

‘Real benefits’

The UN chief said the exit was “delivering tangible benefits and much-needed relief to the Yemeni peoplewith a significant reduction in violence and civilian casualties throughout the country”.

It has also allowed an increase in fuel deliveries through the main Red Sea port of Hudaydah, and the resumption of international flights to and from the Houthi-controlled airport in the capital, Sa’ana, for the first time in six years.

“However more needs to be done to achieve its full implementationincluding having an agreement on the opening of roads in Taiz”, in the south, and other governors, the Secretary-General added.

Starting to pay civil service salaries, it will further improve the daily life of ordinary Yemenis, he said, considering the improvement of “long-term political, economic and military issues”, which “will show a great change to finding lasting solutions.”

Seize the day

Mr. Guterres urged all those involved in the long conflict, to “seize this opportunity.”

“This is the time to build on the gains achieved and embark on a path towards the return of a more inclusive and inclusive political process, to reach a compromise to end the conflict. The United Nations will make no effort at alls to support the parties in this effort. “

An IOM worker distributes relief materials to displaced communities in Ma’rib, Yemen.