Release of ship’s crew, ‘a step in the right direction’: UN Yemen envoy
22 January 2025
New York – The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, on Sunday welcomed the release of the crew of a United Arab Emirates-flagged ship that had been held by the Houthi rebels for more than three years, calling it a “step in the right direction.”
The crew of the Rwabee, a UAE-flagged cargo ship, was captured by the Houthis in January 2022 while carrying medical supplies to the Yemeni port of Hodeidah. The Houthis had accused the crew of being involved in military activities, a charge that the UAE and the crew members denied.
In a statement, Grundberg said he was “relieved” that the crew had been released and reunited with their families. He said that their release was “a step in the right direction” and that he hoped it would lead to further progress towards a comprehensive ceasefire and political settlement in Yemen.
“I urge the parties to continue to engage in constructive dialogue and to take further steps to build confidence and create a conducive environment for peace,” Grundberg said.
The release of the crew came as part of a prisoner swap deal between the Houthis and the Yemeni government. The deal was brokered by Oman and included the release of more than 1,000 prisoners from both sides.
The Yemeni government has welcomed the release of the crew, saying it is a “positive step” and that it hopes it will lead to further progress towards peace. The Houthis have not yet commented on the release.
The conflict in Yemen began in 2014, when the Houthis seized control of the capital, Sana’a, and other parts of the country. A Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015 to support the Yemeni government, and the conflict has since become a regional proxy war.
The war has caused a humanitarian crisis in Yemen, with millions of people facing famine and disease. The conflict has also displaced millions of people and destroyed much of the country’s infrastructure.
The United Nations has been working to broker a ceasefire and a political settlement in Yemen. In April 2022, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution calling for a ceasefire and the resumption of peace talks. However, the Houthis have rejected the resolution and the conflict continues.
Release of ship’s crew, ‘a step in the right direction’: UN Yemen envoy
The AI has provided us with the news.
I’ve asked Google Gemini the following question, and here’s its response.
Peace and Security a new article on 2025-01-22 12:00 titled “Release of ship’s crew, ‘a step in the right direction’: UN Yemen envoy”. Please write a detailed article on this news item, including any relevant information. Answers should be in English.
13