UN Representative Visits Sanaa, Yemen to Promote Peace Initiatives
Click to start listening
Aden, Jan 7 (NationPress) The United Nations' Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, has landed in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, his first visit in almost two years, aimed at revitalizing the stagnant peace negotiations.
A source at Sanaa International Airport informed Xinhua that Grundberg arrived on a UN aircraft on Monday, accompanied by a team of aides, and was greeted by Houthi officials before proceeding to the city center shortly thereafter.
In a succinct statement shared on X, Grundberg highlighted that the purpose of his visit is to encourage decisive and vital actions from the Houthi group to further the peace process, according to reports from Xinhua.
The envoy indicated that his visit is part of ongoing efforts to advocate for the release of individuals who have been arbitrarily detained, including personnel from the UN, NGOs, civil society, and diplomatic missions.
This trip follows a discussion on Sunday in Muscat with the leader of the Houthi negotiating team, where he reiterated the necessity of implementing tangible steps to ease peace discussions.
This marks the first visit by the UN envoy in almost two years, as rising tensions and the detention of international personnel have obstructed the progress of negotiations.
In recent years, the Houthis have taken into custody numerous employees from UN agencies and various international as well as local NGOs.
Since October 2, 2022, Yemen has experienced a fragile calm, following the government's and Houthi group's failure to renew and expand a UN-mediated ceasefire.
Despite numerous diplomatic attempts, both parties have shown little inclination to resume discussions to resolve the conflict, which the UN estimates has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands and left millions on the verge of famine in Yemen.
