Unconditional Humanitarian Pause Starts in Yemen on Friday

The spokesman for the UN Secretary-General announced today that an “unconditional humanitarian pause” is to begin by the end of the day on Friday.

All parties of the conflict have agreed on a pause in fighting to give the population access to humanitarian aid provided by the international community.

#UNSG Ban Ki-moon welcomes humanitarian pause in #yemen & thanks Pres Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi for his support @OSESGY http://t.co/VHRL8GU3Uy

— UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) 9. July 2015

“It is imperative and urgent that humanitarian aid can reach all vulnerable people of Yemen unimpeded and through an unconditional humanitarian pause. Full and unhindered access by humanitarian agencies to all parts of the country, including through sea and airports, should be ensured with a view to reaching people in need, including with essential medicines, vaccinations, food and water,” the statement read on the UN website.

The Houthis, the General People’s Congress and other parties of the conflict sent their assurances to respect the truce through the UN’s special envoy to Yemen. The truce was also welcomed by the country’s exiled president Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi.

The ceasefire is agreed to last until the end of Ramadan, which is July 17, 2015. The armed conflict in Yemen between the Houthi rebels and governmental forces began in March. According to the latest UN reports, there are around 21 million people affected by the conflict, which require humanitarian assistance, 1 million internally displaced people and 3,083 registered deaths.