Yemen: agreement on gradual withdrawal from Hodeida

The two sides at war in Yemen have agreed on the first phase of a pullback of forces from the city of Hodeidah. The United Nations described the agreement as "important progress".

Hodeidah, on Yemen's western coast,  provides access to the Bab al-Mandeb Strait - the fourth busiest waterway in the world. It has been in possession of the Houthi's since these in 2014 started to take over large parts of Yemen.

The move prompted the military intervention of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and allies the following year on behalf of the so called 'official' government. It was the begin of  one of the world' worst humanitarian crises.

The deal about the pullback was concluded after two days of talks. The government and Houthis concluded a deal on the first phase of the pullback and agreed in principle on the second phase, a UN statement said on Sunday.
"After lengthy but constructive discussions facilitated by the RCC Chair, the parties reached an agreement on Phase 1 of the mutual redeployment of forces," the UN statement said.
The redeployment from Hodeidah is a critical part of a ceasefire deal reached in December in Sweden that calls on the government and Houthi rebels to move forces away from ports and parts of the city.
Under the vaguely worded agreement, three of Hodeidah's ports - Hodeidah, Saleef and Ras Isa - which serve as a major lifeline for more than 18 million Yemenis who live in the rebel-held territory, were expected to fall under the control of "local forces".
Under the Stockholm agreement, the pullback was supposed to have taken place two weeks after the ceasefire went into force on December 18, but that deadline was missed.
The Red Sea port is the entry point for the bulk of imported goods and relief aid to Yemen and is home to the Red Sea Mills silos - which are believed to contain enough grain to feed several million people. But according to the World Food Programme, the granary has been off-limits to aid organisations for months putting the food at risk of rotting.
Earlier this week, the UN said that four years of war had pushed two-thirds of Yemen to "pre-famine" levels, while one-third faced "acute vulnerabilities".
"An estimated 80 percent of the population, 24 million, require some form of humanitarian or protection assistance, including 14.3 million who are in acute need," the OCHA statement said.