Last Saturday, on the initiative of the United Nations, a two-month truce of the conflict in Yemen began, which partly coincides with Ramadan.
The parties have agreed on several points to be respected until next June 2 in order to mitigate the violence in order to allow the distribution of economic aid and to meet humanitarian needs.
On 6 April, we were invited (the only Italians) to participate in the press conference of the United Nations special envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg who took stock of the situation, focusing in particular on the truce agreement and its latest efforts to broker a peaceful and sustainable solution to the conflict in Yemen.
Grundberg began by delivering a speech in which he emphasized the truce, defining it as "an important but still fragile step" and an opportunity to be exploited to work in order to reach a peaceful solution to the conflict.
Since the beginning of the war, this is the first respite and, although small, it is still a step forward. The suspension of hostilities makes it possible to reduce violence and bring immediate help to the population. The senior official vindicates the principles of UN diplomacy and mediation but thanks and commends the parties involved who have allowed the agreement, trusting in their responsibility to maintain and perhaps extend the truce.
These first days of respite are crucial to building trust and making the mechanism work. The envoy states that the political will of the parties is essential for the achievement of peace, therefore this pause in the fighting must develop dialogues in order to slowly abandon the battlefield. In addition to the parties involved, the support of the international community is also needed to initiate a political process leading to a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
Finally, it addresses the media inviting them not to spread false or inaccurate news and not to promote activities that accentuate controversy and disagreements but to help create a favorable ground for building trust between the parties.
The truce agreement will allow the arrival of 18 ships in the port of Hodeida for the supplies of fuel and humanitarian aid, as well as two weekly flights to and from Sanaa airport.
The Yemeni crisis is not marginal with respect to the world's geopolitical and economic-financial mechanisms. The control of the Bab el Mandeb strait, through which oil tankers and container ships transit from Asia to the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal, is not secondary but of primary importance, which is why many would like to monopolize it.
This conflict has produced the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, reducing almost half of the Yemeni population to starvation; the UN estimates that up to the end of 2021 three hundred and seventy-seven thousand were the losses in terms of lives and more than half of these were due to indirect events such as disease and hunger. UNICEF estimates that more than 10.200 children have been killed or injured as a result of fighting, mines and remnants of war. About 2,2 million children under the age of five suffer from acute malnutrition. About 8,5 million children lack access to safe water and sanitation, exacerbating the risk of waterborne diseases and further malnutrition. More than 10 million children and nearly 5 million women do not have adequate access to health services or receive medical assistance, and 2 million children are out of school.
Grunberg is confident in a renewal of the truce to give more time to the peace process but the chaos that reigns in Yemen (failed state), hunger and lack of confidence make both an extension of the truce and a dialogue between the parties difficult.
We will see if this temporary suspension of the fighting will come to June 2 and maybe it will be renewed to be able to definitively end a forgotten conflict.
Pictures: A / author
