YEMEN: Warring parties agree to ceasefire in Hodeidah

Yemen’s warring sides have agreed to a ceasefire for the flashpoint city of Hodeidah and its surrounding governorate, a major breakthrough that could end what the UN calls the “world’s worst humanitarian crisis”. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that the Houthis agreed to withdraw from the strategic western city and relinquish control of […]

Yemen’s warring sides have agreed to a ceasefire for the flashpoint city of Hodeidah and its surrounding governorate, a major breakthrough that could end what the UN calls the “world’s worst humanitarian crisis”.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that the Houthis agreed to withdraw from the strategic western city and relinquish control of three of its ports – Hodeidah, Saleef and Ras Isa – which serve as a major lifeline for more than 18 million Yemenis who live in rebel-held territory.

As part of the agreement, the ports would fall under the control of “local forces”, who would then send the ports’ revenues to the country’s Central Bank.

The Central bank would then begin paying the salaries of government employees in Houthi-held areas. As many as 1.2 million civil servants haven’t received their salaries in nearly two years, leaving health, education and sanitation services without the people and resources needed to keep them running.