UN: Houthi withdrawal from Hodeidah ports was partially agreed upon

The United Nations announced on Tuesday that the withdrawal of the Houthis from three Yemeni ports in Hodeidah was "partially agreed" under the peace agreement, but considered at the same time that there is "much work" to remove all military manifestations from the three ports.

The unilateral withdrawal of the Houthis began on Saturday from major ports for grain, oil, trade and aid, most notably the main port of Hodeidah, the lifeline of millions of Yemenis, as well as the Salif and Ras Issa ports.

"The United Nations teams are monitoring the withdrawal, which was partially implemented as agreed by the two Yemeni parties under Phase I, and there is a lot of work," said Michael Lolsgaard, head of the United Nations' Co-ordinating Committee for the Redeployment of the United Nations. Which should be done on the removal of (military) manifestations, but cooperation was and is still very good. "

Lolsgaard urged the parties to complete the pending negotiations to allow the full implementation of the first and second phases of the Hodeidah agreement.

The Stockholm agreements between the Houthis and the Yemeni government stipulated a cease-fire in the province of Hodeidah, the withdrawal of all fighters from its ports, and the withdrawal of Huthis and government forces from the entire city of Hodeidah.

The UN mission considered that the "effective implementation" of the agreements required strengthening the presence of the United Nations in ports to support its management by the Red Sea Ports Company. It also called for strengthening the monitoring of the United Nations verification and inspection mechanism in accordance with the Hodeidah Convention and considered it necessary to ensure effective access of humanitarian assistance to millions They desperately need to save their lives.

The United Nations humanitarian coordinator in Yemen, Liz Grande, told the island two days ago that the withdrawal of the Houthis is a positive step that will help deliver aid from food, medicine and fuel to 20 million Yemenis faster. The United Nations Development Program also announced that it will begin improving the efficiency and productivity of ports through the development of its facilities .

Yemeni Transport Minister Saleh al-Jabwani has accused the Huthis of demonstrating to withdraw and said they are handing over the ports to other elements of their militias in civilian clothes. He accused UN envoy Martin Griffith of colluding with the Huthis in this "farce".

On the other hand, Griffith said today that he was "very concerned" about the escalation of fighting in recent weeks in the province of Dhala, which lies on the main transport route between the south and north of the country, and called on both sides to show "utmost restraint."