Yemeni government spokesman Rajeh Badi told Asharq Al-Awsat on Sunday that a two-week ceasefire declared by the legitimacy and the Arab coalition in Yemen was met with Houthi recklessness and mockery.
“The militias do not care about the lives of hundreds of thousands of Yemenis, but are only preoccupied with controlling some areas,” Badi said, accusing the insurgent group of taking advantage from the ceasefire to launch attacks on liberated areas.
“The UN envoy must move quickly. We do not accept that the ceasefire be used by Houthis to rearrange their military positions or to continue launching attacks against our forces and Yemenis in several areas,” he said.
The spokesman asserted that the Yemeni government welcomes the UN's efforts to establish a ceasefire in the country and mobilize efforts to handle the coronavirus crisis in light of the difficult humanitarian conditions in Yemen.
“The purpose of this ceasefire was to unify all Yemeni efforts to strengthen the security and stability in the country to face this virus,” Badi explained.
The Yemeni government refuses that the ceasefire turns into an opportunity for Houthis to rearrange their military ranks and attack the National Army and liberated areas.
The Yemeni Foreign Ministry said Sunday that Yemen calls upon the UN Security Council to pressure the Houthi militants to respond positively to the Saudi-led Arab Coalition's ceasefire announced unilaterally on Thursday.
Responding to a UNSC press statement that welcomed the Saudi initiative and called on Houthis to make "a similar commitment", the Ministry said Yemen welcomed the move but called on the UNSC and the whole international community "to pressure on this militia into responding to the initiative and to hold them accountable for their maximalist avoidance and rejection (of peace)."
Last Thursday, the UN envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths uncovered that an inclusive initiative to stop the war was being discussed with warring parties, in order to boost anti-COVID-19 efforts.
Until Sunday, Houthis had not announced any official position on the ceasefire initiative in Yemen, while the Saudi-led Arab coalition has declared a two-week ceasefire.
A cabinet session held last Saturday and chaired by Prime Minister Ma'een Abdulmalik said the government has taken the measures to establish a comprehensive cease-fire in a response to the call of the Chief of the UN to devote efforts and resources to combat coronavirus pandemic.
The Cabinet was also informed about the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Yemen and the practical measures taken to deal with.
