Yemen's warring parties renew two-month truce: UN

Yemen'swarringpartieshave agreed torenewatwo-monthtruce, the United Nations said Thursday, in an 11th-hour move on the day it was set to expire."I would like to announce that thepartiesto the conflict have agreed to the United Nations' proposal torenewthe current truce in Yemenfor two additional months," theUNspecial envoy onYemen, Hans Grundberg, said in a statement."The extension of thetrucecomes into effect when the currenttruceperiod expires, today 2 June 2022 at 19:00Yementime (1600 GMT)."

Yemenhas been gripped by conflict since the Iran-backed Huthi rebels took control of the capital Sanaa in 2014, triggering a Saudi-led military intervention in support of the beleaguered government the following year.

Grundberg added thetrucewas extended under the same terms as the previous one.

Aid groups inYemenhave touted the benefits of thetruce, which went into effect in April.

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Beyond opening Sanaa airport to some commercial flights –- a lifeline to Yemenis needing medical care abroad –- thetrucehas allowed oil tankers to dock in the rebel-held port of Hodeida, potentially easing fuel shortages in Sanaa and elsewhere.

But a provision for the rebels to ease their siege ofYemen's third-largest city Taez has yet to be implemented, to the anger of the government which is demanding roads to the city be opened.

Meanwhile, the rebels have called on the government to pay the salaries of public sector employees working in areas under their control.

"In order for thetruceto fully deliver on its potential, additional steps will need to be taken, particularly on the matters of road openings and commercial flight operations," Grundberg said.

"I will continue engaging with thepartiesto implement and consolidate all elements of thetrucein full, and move towards a sustainable political settlement to the conflict that meets the legitimate aspirations and demands of Yemeni women and men."

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