PM welcomes chance to ‘finally secure peace’ in Yemen civil war
Boris Johnson has welcomed a two-month truce in Yemen, with violence in the country’s almost eight-year civil war having intensified this year.
The prime minister said the agreement, negotiated by the UN’s special envoy in Yemen, could provide an end to the suffering.
He tweeted: “We now have a window of opportunity to finally secure peace and end the humanitarian suffering – I urge all parties to work towards a lasting political solution.”
Hans Grundberg, the UN envoy to Yemen, said the two warring parties will begin the two-month truce at 7pm local time on Saturday as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins.
He said the truce will give Yemenis “a necessary break from violence, relief from the humanitarian suffering and most importantly hope that an end to this conflict is possible”.
Mr Grundberg added that the agreement would “not have been possible without international and regional support, which I am grateful for”. He said it is critical that support continues.
Yemen is now facing one of the worst ever humanitarian crises because of the war.
The Middle Eastern country’s official government is backed by a Saudi-led coalition that has used mainly airstrikes in its fight against the rebel Houthi group since 2014.
The Houthis have used drones and missiles to attack both Saudi Arabia and its ally, the United Arab Emirates.
