ISTANBUL: On Saturday, a ceasefire started between Yemen warring parties, following an UN-brokered contract on a “long overdue” two-month ceasefire. 

As per the local resources, the people of Yemen welcomed the truce, which came into effect at 7 p.m. with their local time (1600GMT), as calm lasted on the fronts in the last remaining hours. 

A day before Saturday, the special representative of the UN for Yemen, Han Grundberg, declared the truce to halt all air, ground, and maritime offensives. 

According to Grundberg, during the two months of the truce, he would enhance work with the parties to reach a permanent ceasefire, “address urgent economic and humanitarian efforts and resume the political process. 

“I call on the parties to fully stick to and respect the Truce and its elements and to take all necessary steps to implement it immediately,” he added.

On late Tuesday, the Saudi-led alliance fighting Yemen’s Houthi rebels stated that it might suspend military operations in a bid to ensure the success of ongoing consultations and to create a positive atmosphere for peace-making efforts during the Muslim holy month Ramadan. 

Moreover, Yemen has been destroyed by violence and instability since 2014, when the Houthi rebels seized half of the country, including the capital Sanaa. 

A Saudi-led coalition, which aims to reinstate the Yemeni government, has exacerbated the situation, causing one of the world’s worst manufactured humanitarian crises. According to UN estimates, nearly 80%, or about 30 million people, are in need of humanitarian help and security, and more than 13 million people are in danger and suffering from starvation.