Saudi-led coalition extends Yemen ceasefire by one month

Alliance supporting internationally recognised government earlier declared a two-week humanitarian truce

The Swedish Foreign Minister, Anne Lind, with her German and British counterparts, Heiko Maas and Dominic Raab, have written in the Financial Times saying that the international community should act tShow more

The Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's internationally recognised government has extended its unilateral ceasefire by one month.

An earlier two-week ceasefire to allow the country to focus on containing a coronavirus outbreak, expired on Thursday.

"The ceasefire will give an opportunity for negotiations to continue between Yemen's two parties to establish a permanent truce," coalition spokesman Turki Al Malki said in a statement.

"The talks will also focus on economic and humanitarian measures, the resumption of a political process, and alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people and to curb the pandemic," Col Al Malki said.

The ceasefire extension, announced on Friday, comes at the start of the holy month of Ramadan.

Yemen's Houthi rebels, who control the capital, Sanaa, and large areas of northern Yemen, have not yet committed to a ceasefire despite the efforts of the UN special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths.

"The coalition's command reaffirms that there is still an opportunity to focus all efforts in order to achieve a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire," Col Al Malki said.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres last month called for ceasefires in conflicts across the world to allow countries to focus on the pandemic.

Yemen has only reported one coronavirus case but humanitarian groups fear a catastrophic outbreak should the virus spread among an acutely malnourished population.

M Griffiths said on Thursday night that both sides must " be guided by the spirit of the holy month and put an end to the suffering of your people".

He said they "must put down the arms. Release all those who lost their liberty due to the conflict. Open humanitarian corridors. Focus on co-ordinating your efforts to help your country respond to the pandemic outbreak and other emergency needs."

Mr Griffiths told the Security Council on Thursday that he expects the government and rebels to formally adopt “in the immediate future” agreements on a nationwide ceasefire, economic and humanitarian measures and a resumption of political talks.

The war in Yemen started in 2014, when the Iranian-backed Houthis seized Sanaa. The government then requested the Saudi-led coalition to intervene on its behalf against the rebels and restore it to power.