The UN Security Council expressed "grave concern" Wednesday that the Stockholm Agreement reached four months ago by the warring parties in Yemen has not been carried out and called for its implementation "without delay."
The Council reiterated its endorsement of the Dec. 13 ceasefire agreement between Yemen's legitimate government and Houthi militias that called for the rapid withdrawals from the key port of Hodeidah and two smaller ports in the province.
The Council also reiterated its concern about "the continued deterioration of the humanitarian situation across Yemen."
The UN envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, told the Council Monday there must be progress in Hodeidah before moving to focus on the political solution.
Wednesday's statement urged the rival parties to engage with Griffiths and the head of the UN operation monitoring the withdrawals "to swiftly agree on local security force arrangements" and on the second phase of the redeployment.
Council members also called on the parties "to redouble efforts" to finalize arrangements for a prisoner exchange and to establish a coordinating committee in Taiz, as called for in the Stockholm Agreement.
They "noted with concern continued violence that risks undermining the ceasefire in Hodeidah."
