UN's Efforts to Re-Implement a Ceasefire in Yemen

The United Nations Security Council supported the request of Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary-General of the organization, for a renewed ceasefire in the battles in Yemen to aid the people, while also calling for immediate peace negotiations. In a statement on June 2, 15 members of the UN Security Council expressed their "deep disappointment" over the postponement of the Geneva talks last week. Reports published last week indicated that there was uncertainty regarding the participation of all parties involved in these negotiations, but no specific explanation was provided by the UN. A diplomat told AFP that a new date for the peace talks has been set for June 10. Alongside this, the UN is urging the parties involved in Yemen to re-establish a humanitarian ceasefire to allow for immediate assistance to the war-affected people. Following the overthrow of the government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi by Houthi rebels and their allies in Yemen, and subsequent airstrikes by a Saudi-led coalition, the battles in Yemen have intensified. A five-day ceasefire established last month allowed aid organizations to access the victims. However, this ceasefire did not last beyond the designated period due to ongoing airstrikes by the coalition and attacks by the rebels. Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesperson for the UN, stated that peace talks in Geneva should be conducted "without preconditions." According to Mr. Dujarric, "We want an immediate ceasefire from the parties involved, but we are not in a position where we need to see a cessation of hostilities before negotiations begin." Recently, a spokesperson for the Yemeni government in exile stated that American officials and a delegation from the Houthi rebels have met in Oman to find a solution to end the Yemeni conflicts. The Yemeni government in exile expressed hope that these negotiations would be held "in the context of international efforts to implement UN Security Council Resolution 2216," which calls for an immediate halt to violence and conflicts, especially by the Houthi rebels. In this context, at least 45 people were killed in an airstrike on a police center in Sana'a.