The highest level of confrontation between Yemen’s warring parties, since a ceasefire deal came into effect in the port city of Hodeidah on December 18, took place on Friday, an informed source and a UN official said.
“This is not necessarily bad news. The two sides were keen to respect the ceasefire in the past phase, even if some confrontations took place,” the informed source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The UN source explained there was “no gap” in the UN presence in Hodeidah.
Under the leadership of retired Dutch General Patrick Cammaert, the Redeployment Coordination Committee is tasked to implement the first phase of the ceasefire deal that calls on Houthi insurgents to withdraw from the Hodeidah, Saleef and Ras Issa ports after January 3, 2019.
The UN set 30 days to implement the agreement reached in Stockholm early this month following several days of consultations between the warring sides.
The UN source said that eight new officials have joined Cammaert’s team.
“However, those are not the military observers, who will be deployed unarmed and in military uniforms to monitor the redeployment,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Arab Coalition said Friday that Houthis have broken the ceasefire 16 times in the past 24 hours.
It added that since the beginning of the ceasefire, there were up to 190 violations.
Also on Friday, UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths welcomed a decision by Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi to pay the salaries of civil servants in Hodeidah province.
Griffiths described Hadi's decision as “an important step towards improving the economic situation and alleviating the Yemeni people’s suffering.”
