UN envoy Martin Griffiths is expected to discuss with the Yemeni legitimate government led by President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi on Wednesday the resumption of negotiations to avert an ongoing military operation by Yemeni Joint Forces, backed by the Arab Coalition, to liberate the city of Hodeidah from the Houthis’ grip.
Griffiths has said he would arrive in Aden on Wednesday to meet with Hadi and to work on preventing an all-out assault on the strategic port city.
In a tweet, the UN envoy said he would brief Hadi "on his latest efforts to avoid military escalation and return to the negotiation table."
Houthi leaders reject pulling out their militias from Hodeidah and refuse to hand over the city to the legitimate government.
Asharq Al-Awsat learned that Griffiths is seeking to convince the legitimate government and Houthi rebels to form a joint committee under UN supervision to manage the city and its port in exchange for stopping military operations and withdrawing Houthi militias to the city’s suburbs.
Meanwhile, the first two relief aircraft, dispatched by King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Acts Center (KSRelief), left Riyadh on Tuesday loaded with 70 tons of shelter and food items heading to Aden, Yemen, to help alleviate sufferings of the needy in the Hodeidah governorate.
The Advisor-Royal Court, the General Supervisor of the Center, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah, said in a press statement that the new relief bridge comes in implementation of the generous directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, to take care of the conditions of all Yemeni people, especially in the most affected areas, including Hodeidah, which suffered greatly from the control imposed by Houthi militias.
