UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths informed the Security Council of the failure of efforts to conclude a truce between the conflicting parties, but he expressed optimism for a comprehensive ceasefire in the country.
In a speech to the Security Council on Thursday, Griffiths called on the parties to the war to take what he described as the courageous decision to end the conflict, stressing that military activities are continuing on several fronts, and that he has made proposals on a ceasefire, the exchange of detainees and the completion of negotiations.
The UN envoy warned of the consequences of the failure of efforts to stop the war in Yemen while the country is facing the outbreak of the Corona virus, pointing to the need to focus now on combating the epidemic.
Meanwhile, Griffiths said he expected the warring parties to soon and officially adopt an agreement on a comprehensive ceasefire nationwide, major humanitarian and economic measures and a resumption of the political process.
He said he had negotiated with the parties over the texts of the agreement over the past two weeks, expressing optimism that the agreement would soon be signed and formal adoption of the procedures contained therein.
Griffiths explained that humanitarian and economic measures may include the release of prisoners and detainees, the opening of Sanaa airport, the payment of salaries of civil servants, the opening of roads, and the guarantee that ships transporting goods enter the port of Hodeidah, thus helping in the war against the Covid-19 epidemic caused by the Coronavirus.
He went on to say that "good progress" was being made, and that the United Nations had redoubled its efforts to overcome existing differences.
However, the head of the Houthi delegation, Mohamed Abdel Salam, criticized the international envoy to Yemen after he briefed him before the Security Council.
Abdel Salam said that the UN envoy offers messages that do not fatten or sing from hunger, and try to pass rubber phrases that do not give any commitment, and considered that peace in Yemen needs a clear and explicit decision to stop what he described as aggression and lift the siege.
In statements to the Houthi channel, Al-Masirah, he pointed out that the group's position is to stop the military option and end the comprehensive siege before any discussion.
And Abd al-Salam considered that what it declared what he described as the aggression countries as a cease-fire is nothing but false allegations and media maneuvering to buy time.
It is noteworthy that Saudi Arabia, which leads the coalition in Yemen, announced on April 9 this cease-fire for a period of two weeks, but fighting continues in several areas, and coalition raids are also continuing.
For his part, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Mark Lowcock, warned that the spread of the Corona virus could have more devastating effects in Yemen than most other countries.
During a briefing to members of the UN Security Council, Lockook justified his expectations of the deterioration of the health infrastructure in this country as a result of the civil war that has been going on for more than five years.
To date, one confirmed case of coronavirus has been recorded in Yemen, while about 80% of the Yemeni population - 24 million people - need humanitarian assistance.