Yemen Parties Agree to Reopen Main Road Between Sanaa, Hodeidah, and Taiz

While the Sweden-based Yemen talks are over, consultations have continued among the various combatants. These have resulted in another deal, with the warring parties agreeing to reopen Kilo 16, the main road connecting Hodeidah and Taiz to the capital city of Sanaa.

This is a huge move for civilians, allowing them to travel out of combat zones to safer places, and also allowing for humanitarian aid shipments out of the aid port of Hodeidah to those other cities.

Dutch Gen. Patrick Cammaert, the head of the UN monitor group, suggested that Hodeidah should be used as the port of entry for all aid into Yemen. That’s likely going to be a tough sell, with neither side having withdrawn from the surrounding area of the city.

The deal from just over a week ago would have both sides withdraw from the city and surrounding area within 30 days. Neither side has really done that since, with both blaming the other for ceasefire violations, and staying on a war footing.