Saudi officials say Yemen ceasefire is in effect, but Houthis yet to officially respond

A ceasefire proposed by the Saudi-led coalition fighting Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen went into effect Thursday, potentially paving the way for an end to the conflict that has gone on for more than five years.

Saudi officials announced late Wednesday that the ceasefire would last for two weeks and that it comes in response to UN calls to halt hostilities amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Saudi Deputy Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman tweeted on Thursday that it "will hopefully create a more effective climate to deescalate tensions" and enable the sides to work toward a political settlement.

He also tweeted that Saudi Arabia would contribute $500 million US to UN relief efforts in Yemen this year, and an additional $25 million to combat the pandemic.

"It is up to Houthis to put the health and safety of the Yemeni people above all else," the prince wrote.

The Saudi-led coalition has been fighting the Houthis since 2015 on behalf of the UN-backed government of Yemeni President Abed Rabo Mansour Hadi. The conflict has killed more than 100,000 people and created the world's worst humanitarian crisis, leaving millions suffering from food and medical care shortages and pushing the country to the brink of famine.

There was no official reaction from the rebels, raising concerns over whether the Saudi initiative would translate into any concrete change on the ground.

Shortly after the Saudis unveiled their plan Wednesday, residents in the contested Yemeni province of Marib said a suspected Houthi missile struck a security building in the city centre. There was no immediate claim of responsibility or reports of casualties.

The war has proved costly for the Saudi monarchy and harmed its international image.

Saudi military spokesperson Col. Turki al-Malki said the truce could be extended to allow warring parties to discuss "a comprehensive political solution in Yemen."

The kingdom's ceasefire declaration comes after previous attempts at peace talks have failed to hold. This time, however, the kingdom faces new realities.

No reported cases in Yemen

With oil prices hovering just above $30 a barrel, the kingdom has said it will cut government spending as it draws from its hefty foreign reserves to prop up the economy amid a shutdown of businesses across the country because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Saudi Arabia is one of the world's top spenders on arms and there's no indication that the government's spending cuts will immediately impact its defence budget, but the cost of war in Yemen weighs heavily as government revenues plummet because of low oil prices. The Wilson Center estimates that the price tag to sustain air, ground and sea operations in the Yemen war can reach up to $200 million a day, though it's unclear how much of that Saudi Arabia has paid.

The Saudi-led coalition was also dealt a blow last summer after the United Arab Emirates undertook "a strategic redeployment" of its troops in Yemen following heightened tensions with Iran in the Persian Gulf, leaving the coalition with a weakened ground presence and fewer tactical options.

So far, Yemen has not recorded any virus cases. However, humanitarian groups have warned of a severe death toll if the pandemic hits the Arab world's poorest country because of its war-weakened health-care infrastructure.

An International Rescue Committee representative in Yemen said Thursday that more than half of Yemen's medical facilities are not functioning and that millions of Yemenis have no access to proper hygiene, water or sanitation.

'Much-needed respite'

"This [ceasefire] promises to be a much-needed respite for the 24 million Yemenis in desperate need of humanitarian aid," said Tamuna Sabedze, IRC's Yemen country director. She urged the warring parties to eventually agree on a permanent truce.

"Two weeks is not enough time to prepare this country for the devastating impacts COVID-19 will have on the country, nor to reach those in need and alleviate their suffering," said Sabedze.

She pointed out that an isolation facility outside the port city of Hodeidah was hit by an airstrike earlier this week.

Proposal welcomed

"We cannot control a global pandemic amongst bombs and airstrikes," Sabedze said.

The U.S. State Department welcomed the Saudi proposal Thursday, stressing that "an enduring solution will require compromise from all sides."

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who called for a ceasefire in all global conflicts on March 23 to tackle the virus and specifically called two days later for a cessation in Yemen, welcomed the announcement, saying: "This can help to advance efforts towards peace as well as the country's response to the COVID-19 pandemic."