The chair of the Redeployment Coordination Committee, Michael Lollesgaard, has announced that Houthi militias would start on Saturday withdrawing from the city of Hodeidah, their first practical step since the conclusion of an agreement, which provides for a ceasefire between the warring parties in Yemen and withdrawal of fighters from the three ports.
He said the militias would make an “initial unilateral redeployment” between May 11 and May 14 from the ports of Saleef, which is used for grain, and Ras Isa, used for oil, as well as the country’s main port of Hodeidah.
Lollesgaard said the redeployment must be followed by committed, transparent and sustained actions of the parties involved to fully deliver on their obligations.
According to the RCC chair, the full implementation of the Hodeidah Agreement would help ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to millions of people in Yemen who need lifesaving assistance.
It should also allow the UN to take “a leading role in supporting the Red Sea Ports Corporation in managing the ports” and to enhance UN checks on cargoes.
Lollesgaard shall lead the UN observer mission set to oversee the ceasefire in Hodeidah and to monitor and report on the Houthi redeployment.
Meanwhile, the World Food Program condemned on Friday attacks on grain silos outside the port of Hodeidah that are vital to UN plans to feed millions of needy Yemenis.
The UN agency's senior spokesperson, Herve Verhoosel, said his team was still assessing the damage from Thursday’s attack.
Verhoosel said the silos contained some 51,000 tons of grains, enough to feed 3.7 million people for a month.
Hodeidah province Governor al-Hassan Taher told Asharq Al-Awsat that Thursday’s attacks on the grain silos caused immense damage.
“The government delegation to the RCC would ask Lollesgaard to urgently exert pressure on Houthis and force them to stop violating the truce,” he said.
