HUDAYDAH, 25 November 2019 — The Head of the United Nations Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) and Chair of the Redeployment Coordination Committee, Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Abhijit Guha is deeply concerned by the escalation of violence witnessed in the last few days in Hudaydah governorate and its surroundings. The increase in the number of airstrikes undertaken in the past 72 hours is in stark contrast to the relative calm after the establishment of the observation posts.

The Head of Mission is alarmed by the reported loss of lives and the suffering among the Yemeni people caused by such attacks, noting that they also jeopardize the safety of members of the Redeployment Coordination Committee, the body responsible for monitoring the ceasefire.

He urges all parties to refrain from any action that may be in contravention to the terms and the spirit of the Stockholm Agreement, and avoid further escalation of the situation. He further urges the use of the de-escalation mechanism established with the support of UNMHA to resolve differences and support ongoing efforts to maintain the ceasefire in Hudaydah.