UN: Yemen’s Warring Parties Refuse to Meet for Hodeidah Talks

UN efforts to get deals reached in Yemen have involved a lot of intermediaries ferrying messages back and forth,with the warring parties refusing to be in the same room. Efforts to advance the Hodeidah ceasefire look to be more of the same, with the two sides refusing a face-to-face meeting.

The Hodeidah ceasefire has largely held, despite both sides claiming violations. Violence is down substantially in the area. Both sides agreed to withdraw their troops from the area, however, and so far have not done so.

That will likely be the main focus of the meeting, though once again such talks will require the two parties’ representatives to be in separate rooms, and the UN to pass messages back and forth.

Hodeidah is the main aid port into Yemen, and the source of about 70% of all food and aid into the country. The ceasefire was intended to keep the port from being sacked by Saudi-backed forces, which would cut off the last source of aid for Houthi-held territory.