The Saudi-led military coalition, which operates in Yemen in support of government forces against the Houthi rebels, will observe a ceasefire from Thursday in the war-torn country to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus, said Wednesday April 8 a Saudi official.

"We are announcing a cease-fire starting for two weeks. We expect the Houthis to accept. We are preparing the ground to fight the Covid-19 disease" in Yemen, said the official. According to him, the unilateral cease-fire will take effect on Thursday at 09:00 GMT.

The rebels did not react immediately to this offer. The coalition has expressed its commitment to respecting the two-week ceasefire, while reserving the right to defend itself in the event of an attack, said the Saudi official.

The ceasefire can be extended if the Houthis respond "positively" to the coalition's move, he added.

No cases of Covid-19 disease

Last month, the UN launched a formal appeal on Monday "for an immediate ceasefire anywhere in the world" to preserve the most vulnerable civilians in the face of Covid-19 "fury". in countries in conflict.

Faced with the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, Yemen, the poorest country on the Arabian Peninsula, has so far registered no cases of infection with Covid-19 disease.

But humanitarian organizations fear a catastrophe if the country were affected by the virus. With a bloodless health system and a shortage of drinking water, Yemen has already been hit by epidemics such as dengue or cholera.

The coalition, supported by the Western powers, has been intervening in the country since March 2015 against the pro-Iranian Shia rebels, who have held Sanaa, the capital, since September 2014, and a large part of northwest Yemen. The conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives, mostly civilians, according to the UN.

With AFP

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