UNDP Chief hails truce in Yemen

UN: the administrator of the UN Development Program (UNDP) Helen Clark on Thursday extended a welcome to the ceasefire in Yemen, saying the UN development agency “will work with all parties in support of recovery and development of the region affected by the conflict.”

Clark, in a statement issued here on Thursday night, said that she “has welcomed the ceasefire in the conflict between the Government of Yemen and the Houthi rebels,” and she added that “UNDP will work with all parties in support of recovery and development of the region affected by the conflict.”

The Government of Yemen had called the ceasefire in the conflict in the north part of the country to coincide with the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The fighting is reportedly going on despite the ceasefire. On Saturday, statements from both the military and the rebels accused the other side of continuing attacks in spite of the ceasefire.

“She expressed her concern about the humanitarian situation in the affected region in northern Yemen, especially for some 250,000 persons displaced by the conflict,” the statement said. The United Nations has appealed to both sides to allow humanitarian corridors to be opened so that aid can be delivered to those displaced by the fighting.

“The administrator, who is also the Chair of the United Nations Development Group (UNDG), added that she hoped that the international community would react positively to the ceasefire by providing urgently needed resources in response to the humanitarian needs caused by the conflict and to allow early recovery from the conflict to begin,” the statement said. “The humanitarian community in Yemen, including the United Nations, issued a Humanitarian Response Appeal for 2010 for support to life-saving humanitarian assistance and early recovery efforts in aid of the affected civilian population,” it added. UNITED NATIONS, Friday, Xinhua