UN Representative in Yemen Calls for Extension of Ceasefire

As the five-day ceasefire aimed at delivering humanitarian aid to the people of Yemen is set to end on Sunday, May 17, the UN special envoy for Yemen has called for its extension. Meanwhile, reports indicate that the Houthi rebels have boycotted political talks regarding the country in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. Despite the ceasefire that has been in place since last Tuesday, battles between the rebels and forces loyal to the ousted government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi continued on Saturday in southern Yemen. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the UN representative in Yemen, stated, "The current humanitarian ceasefire must become a sustainable ceasefire." According to AFP, humanitarian and aid groups have also called for an extension of the ceasefire. The latest crisis in Yemen began with the Houthi rebels' overthrow of Hadi's government and their supporters, including military personnel loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh, followed by airstrikes from the Saudi-led coalition. Iranian government officials support the Houthis while denying allegations of interference in Yemen's affairs, which have been made by figures from the ousted government. Saudi Arabia and its Arab coalition have declared their goal to restore power to the Hadi government. The Houthis have also refused to meet with nearly 400 representatives, including Mr. Hadi, who has sought refuge in Saudi Arabia. On the other hand, reports indicate the arrival of an Iranian ship in the Gulf of Aden. The ship "Iran Shahed," which Tehran claims is carrying humanitarian aid for the people of Yemen, departed from Bandar Abbas last Monday. The United States had previously asked Tehran to send this ship toward Djibouti, where the UN has established a center for distributing humanitarian aid to Yemen.