With the current truce agreement between the warring parties in Yemen set to expire on 2 October 2022, more than 40 national and international humanitarian organizations today urged all parties to the conflict to renew and expand the ceasefire. They also reminded the parties that the future of the people of Yemen is in their hands.
âAs organizations working in Yemen, we recognize and applaud the important steps taken by all parties to the conflict as they continue to work towards upholding the truce. Together you have enabled the longest period of calm for more than seven years, bringing relief and hope to the people of Yemen. During the past six months, we have seen a 60 per cent reduction in casualties,â the joint statement says.
The non-governmental organizations (NGOs) warn that while important gains have already been made, more time is needed to ensure that Yemenis can start to rebuild and recover their lives. After more than seven years of conflict, 23.4 million people in Yemen are dependent on humanitarian assistance. A longer truce would be the first step towards building the lasting peace that is critical to allow people to move beyond food handouts and build their self-reliance.
The humanitarian organizations say while civilian casualties have fallen during the period of the truce, injuries and death as a result of landmines and unexploded ordnances are continuing to rise. A longer period of peace would give humanitarian mine actors the time needed to import critical demining equipment, train staff and carry out clearance to help protect civilians, allow farmers to start using land again, and ensure that children can attend school without risking their lives.
The NGOs hope that a longer extension of the truce in Yemen would be the first step in further building upon the gains over the past six months and creating the stability needed to carry out longer-term assistance. They warn, if the conflict restarts now, it not only risks destroying gains already made but threatens the future development of Yemen.
More than seven years of armed conflict in Yemen have caused tens of thousands of civilian casualties and forced millions to flee their homes, making Yemen one of the worldâs largest humanitarian crises, for many still the worldâs worst humanitarian crisis. In March 2022, a Saudi-led coalition announced that it would cease all hostilities within Yemen, in order to facilitate political talks and peacekeeping efforts. Peace efforts gained momentum in April 2022, when Houthi rebels and coalition forces coordinated a two-month truce, the first nationwide cease-fire in years. In June 2002 the parties to the conflict in Yemen agreed to a United Nationsâ proposal to renew the truce for an additional two months. At the last minute, in early August, the warring parties extended the cease-fire again for two months (until October 2).
The signatory organizations are:
Al Tathamon Foundation for Development, Abna Saada Association for Development Social & Charity, ACTED, Action Contre la Faim (ACF), Action For Humanity International, ADRA, Alamal Womenâs Sociocultural Foundation (AWSF), All Girls Foundation, CARE, Civilians In Conflict ( CIVIC), Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe, Danish Refugee Council, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), Field Medical Foundation, Generations without Qat, HALO, Handicap International - Humanity and Inclusion, International Medical Corps, INTERSOS, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Islamic Relief Worldwide, Life Makers Meeting Place Organisation, Light Foundation for Development, Mercy Corps, MSI Yemen, Norwegian Peopleâs Aid, Norwegian Refugee Council, Oxfam, Polish Humanitarian Action (PAH), PU-AMI (PremiĂ©re Urgence â Aide MĂ©dicale Internationale), Qudrah Organization for Sustainable Development, Rawahel Foundation for Development, Relief International, Rescue Foundation for Development, Samaritanâs Purse, Save the Children, She4Society Intiative, Tamdeen Youth Foundation, Vision Hope International, War Child UK, Yemen Center for Human Rights Studies, Yemen Family Care Association, ZOA
Further information
Full text: 44 national and international NGOs call for renewal and expansion of truce in Yemen, joint statement, released September 29, 2022
https://www.nrc.no/globalassets/pdf/statements/jointtrucestatement_290922_en.pdf