The first coordinated ceasefire in years came into force in Yemen over the weekend.

The first day, Saturday, was also the start of the Islamic month of fasting, Ramadan.

The fighting is now to be halted for two months.

International Yemen diplomacy last managed to broker a country-wide ceasefire in 2016, which was accepted by both the Houthi rebels and the internationally recognized government.

Christopher Ehrhardt

Correspondent for the Arab countries based in Beirut.

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The Houthi took control of the capital Sanaa in September 2014 and drove President Abd Rabbo Mansur Hadi into exile in Saudi Arabia.

Since March 2015, the military coalition led by the kingdom has been trying to push back the Shiite rebels, who have become increasingly allied with the Iranian regime over the course of the war, which is supporting them with weapons and trainers, among other things.

16.2 million Yemenis face food shortages

The war has plunged Yemen into one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

According to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), around 16.2 million Yemenis – around 45 percent of the population – are at risk of food shortages.

Confidence-building measures are part of the ceasefire agreement.

The Hadi government's foreign minister, Ahmed bin Mubarak, announced that two fuel-laden ships would soon be unloaded in the Houthi-controlled port of the coastal city of Hodeidah.

He also stated that Sana'a airport would soon open to limited commercial international flights.

Only humanitarian flights are currently possible.

An exchange of prisoners is also being negotiated.

Appeals came from abroad to observe the ceasefire and to use it to work on a solution to the conflict with UN mediation.

"As I said before, it is imperative that we end this war," said US President Joe Biden.

The UN special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, announced further talks with the conflicting parties with the aim of "achieving a lasting ceasefire, addressing urgent economic and humanitarian measures and resuming the political process".

Recently, however, there had been little reason for optimism.

According to diplomats, the Houthi in particular had been unyielding and insisted on maximum demands.

The Shiite rebel movement has held its own against the coalition for more than seven years.

The Houthis are unlikely to relinquish control of Sanaa and their northern dominions without demanding concessions that Hadi and his foreign allies would be reluctant to make.