Houthis say they are trying to achieve a permanent ceasefire in Yemen

The group calls for the solution to the conflict to include the end of the blockade and address the humanitarian crisis

Jan. 2 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Houthis have assured that they are trying to obtain a permanent ceasefire in the framework of the war in Yemen and have stressed that any solution must include the end of the blockade by the international coalition and address the humanitarian crisis in the country.

“We are looking for a clear stage, either a truce or a permanent ceasefire, and we have presented our point of view to the Omani mediator,” said the Houthis spokesman, Mohamed Abdesalam, in statements given to the Yemeni television channel Al Masirah, linked to the group.

“Any solution must be based on the disbursement of employee salaries from oil and gas revenues, according to the 2014 Budgets,” he explained, before stressing that “any truce must expand humanitarian conditions.”

Thus, he has stated that the demands of the Houthis “are legitimate and correct” and has specified that “what they are asking for are humanitarian benefits that have nothing to do with military or political matters.” In this sense, he has defended the benefits of the truce that was in place between April and October.

“We have always asked for a humanitarian truce and address the humanitarian aspect, but the enemy did not respond until it received painful blows,” he denounced, while pointing out that what prevents the coalition from continuing to attack Yemen is “the reaction” of the huthis.

For his part, the president installed by the rebels after the seizure of the capital, Mahdi al Mashat, has warned that at this time “there is a fragile truce.” “We expect the return of war at any moment, and we are prepared for it,” stressed the president of the Supreme Political Council of the Houthis.

The war in Yemen pits the internationally recognized government, now represented by the Presidential Leadership Council and supported by the aforementioned international coalition, against the Houthis, backed by Iran. The Houthis control the capital, Sana’a, and parts of the north and west of the country.

The United Nations special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, is trying to bring positions closer between the parties to relaunch the peace process, after the truce agreed in April on the occasion of the start of Ramadan expired in October and was subsequently extended in several occasions.