Sanaa first commercial flight in six years welcomed by UN

The United Nations welcomed the news on Thursday of the scheduled first commercial flight from Yemen’s Sanaa airport in six years and urged all parties to continue supporting such flights in accordance with the truce negotiated at the start of the holy month of Ramadan.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the Amman-bound flight, due to depart from Sanaa on Sunday, is a “critical component” of Yemen’s recent two-month peace accord.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised the cease-fire as “the beginning of a better future for the Yemeni people.”

Dujarric expressed gratitude to Jordan “for its assistance in achieving this result, as well as to the Yemeni government for its positive role in achieving this result.”

“We rely on the continuous cooperation of all parties to enable a successful flight on Sunday and to facilitate flights in accordance with the truce agreement’s parameters.”

While the truce has held for the most part, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg has stated that it is weak and transitory.

He raised worry last week at the United Nations Security Council about military activity near Marib, saying such allegations must be handled immediately through the truce channels.

One week into the truce, combat erupted on the outskirts of Marib following an attack on government forces by the Houthi militia.

Yemen’s internationally recognized government has accused Iran-backed militias of abusing the Ramadan truce to recruit fresh fighters and military hardware.

“I remind the parties that the truce should be utilized to advance toward an end to the war, not to intensify it,” Grundberg added.

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