UN envoy urges support for efforts to resume political process in Yemen

Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the Special Envoy of the Secretary General for Yemen, “is deeply concerned about the escalation of violence in Yemen and the continuous violations putting the life of civilians at risk,” said a statement issued by his office.

Since 2015, the southern Arabian nation has been in a conflict between forces loyal to President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi and those allied to the Houthi rebel movement.

The envoy reiterated that there is no military solution to the crisis, and the only solution is a Yemeni-owned political process “without any foreign intervention,” the statement said.

Ould Cheikh Ahmed condemned targeting the Saudi capital of Riyadh on 19 December with a ballistic missile, saying that “this is an escalation that hinders peace efforts in Yemen.”

The envoy called for restraint and urged parties to refrain from any acts of violence that would aggravate the already difficult humanitarian and security situation in the country.

The envoy welcomed the decision of the Arab Alliance to open the port of Hodeidah for humanitarian and relief access and allow commercial ships to enter for 30 days, also calling for the continuation of these measures thereafter.

The envoy reiterated his earnest intention to redouble his efforts urgently to get in contact with all parties to prepare the resumption of a comprehensive and credible political process.

Photo: ICRC/Khalid al-Saeed

Source: www.justearthnews.com