Germany urges Yemeni rivals to implement ceasefire

By Ayhan Simsek

BERLIN (AA) - Germany on Tuesday called on warring parties in Yemen to implement their ceasefire agreement and withdraw troops quickly from the ports of Al-Hudaydah.

In a statement posted on Twitter, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas reaffirmed Berlin’s support for the UN-led Yemen peace talks and urged the parties of the conflict to take concrete steps.

“The parties must show that they are serious and they have an interest in building mutual confidence,” he said.

“The agreements on the withdrawal troops from the ports and critical parts of Al-Hudaydah city must be realized quickly and without delay,” he added.

Maas also announced that Germany would allocate €100 million (approx. $113.7 million) in aid for the UN’s humanitarian efforts in the country.

Yemen has been wracked by violence since 2014 when the Shia Houthi group overran much of the country.

The crisis escalated in 2015 when the Saudi-led coalition launched a devastating air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi gains.

On Dec. 13, Yemeni peace talks held in Sweden concluded with a ceasefire deal in Al-Hudaydah between Houthis and the Yemeni government.

The warring parties, however, have failed to withdraw from the city amid accusations of breaching the agreement.