HUDAYDAH, 12 June 2019 — The Chairman of the Redeployment Coordination Committee (RCC) and Head of the United Nations Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA), Lieutenant General Michael Lollesgaard, transmitted identical letters today to the Government of Yemen and Ansar Allah (Houthi) representatives to the RCC, which provided a status update on the initial redeployment undertaken by Ansar Allah (Houthi) from the three Red Sea ports of Hudaydah, Salif and Ras Isa on 11-14 May 2019.
 
General Lollesgaard noted that since 14 May the Houthi military presence was not detected in the ports by regular verification patrols by UNMHA. He outlined that security of the three ports was observed as subsequently being provided by coast guard forces, however, he further noted that the agreed-upon strength of the coast guard (450 personnel) has yet to be confirmed by UNMHA. Regarding the removal of military manifestations, General Lollesgaard observed that manifestations in Salif and Ras Isa have been removed, but that in Hudaydah port these manifestations largely remained. He called on the Ansar Allah (Houthi) to expeditiously complete the removal of all military manifestations, including trenches as part of their commitment to the process. 
 
General Lollesgaard reiterated that the initial redeployments from the ports were significant, not only as the first part of the broader redeployments in Hudaydah, but also as it transformed the ports into “civilian space” that facilitated the work of the Yemen Red Sea Ports Corporation, supported by the United Nations.
 
Noting the continued commitment of the parties to the Hudaydah Agreement, General Lollesgaard urges them to finalize the outstanding negotiations to allow for a full implementation of Phases 1 and 2. 
 
Currently UNMHA continues to actively monitor the three ports to verify their sustained demilitarization and to follow up on pending matters related to minefields, explosive remnants of war and military manifestations.