British foreign minister Jeremy Hunt will travel to the Gulf to push for the complete ending of hostilities in the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah.
A government statement said Mr Hunt would throw his weight behind the work of UN special envoy Martin Griffiths to ensure the action plan agreed at December’s Stockholm peace talks between Yemen’s warring factions was put in place.
Both the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels have accused each other of breaking the ceasefire declared in Hodeidah, a crucial staging post for humanitarian aid in the famine-hit country.
Tonight I head for Oman, Saudi Arabia and UAE for more talks on Yemen peace process. My aim is to build on December's UN-backed Stockholm agreement. We've seen some progress, especially reduced fighting in Hodeidah. But more must be done, now, if lasting peace to be achieved
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) February 28, 2019
Mr Hunt is set to visit the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman “to inject fresh urgency into Yemen’s peace process” and will hold talks with key stakeholders.
“My aim is to build on the UN-backed agreement reached in Stockholm in December. The peace process has allowed a sustained reduction in fighting in Hodeidah,” Mr Hunt said.
“But more needs to be done. In my discussions with the Houthis and the Government of Yemen I will urge all sides to accelerate the redeployments they agreed at Stockholm and ensure the flow of humanitarian relief.
“Moving these forces away from the ports is necessary to prevent a return to fighting, prepare the road for the next round of peace talks and ensure desperately needed humanitarian aid is able to reach those who need it most,” he added.
The foreign minister’s comments come after the UK recently announced a £200 million (Dh974 million) aid package to support Yemen’s struggling population.
