Grundberg in Sanaa to Consolidate Truce

UN special envoy Hans Grundberg (C) looks on after arriving at Sanaa International in the Yemeni capital, on April 11, 2022. (AFP)
UN special envoy Hans Grundberg (C) looks on after arriving at Sanaa International in the Yemeni capital, on April 11, 2022. (AFP)
TT

Grundberg in Sanaa to Consolidate Truce

UN special envoy Hans Grundberg (C) looks on after arriving at Sanaa International in the Yemeni capital, on April 11, 2022. (AFP)
UN special envoy Hans Grundberg (C) looks on after arriving at Sanaa International in the Yemeni capital, on April 11, 2022. (AFP)

The United Nations envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, arrived in Sanaa on Monday to consolidate the truce that was announced earlier this month.

He is set to meet with leading members of the Iran-backed Houthi militias as part of his efforts to resolve the crisis.

A statement from his office said discussions will focus on the implementation and consolidation of the two-month UN truce. They will also tackle a comprehensive peace process that Grundberg is drafting.

The Houthis had refused to meet with Grundberg in September, shortly after he had assumed his post. He ended up meeting with their negotiations delegations on several occasions in the Omani capital Muscat.

The Omani Foreign Ministry revealed that envoy's visit to Sanaa was possible after a series of meetings and discussions between Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi and head of the Houthi negotiations delegation Mohammed Abdulsalam.

In a tweet, the ministry said the talks focused on consolidating the truce and the conditions needed to reach a comprehensive settlement in Yemen.



Egypt Prepares to Open the Rafah Crossing with Gaza

FILED - 15 November 2023, Egypt, Rafah: Aid trucks queue to enter Palestinian territories from Rafah Border Crossing. Photo: Gehad Hamdy/dpa
FILED - 15 November 2023, Egypt, Rafah: Aid trucks queue to enter Palestinian territories from Rafah Border Crossing. Photo: Gehad Hamdy/dpa
TT

Egypt Prepares to Open the Rafah Crossing with Gaza

FILED - 15 November 2023, Egypt, Rafah: Aid trucks queue to enter Palestinian territories from Rafah Border Crossing. Photo: Gehad Hamdy/dpa
FILED - 15 November 2023, Egypt, Rafah: Aid trucks queue to enter Palestinian territories from Rafah Border Crossing. Photo: Gehad Hamdy/dpa

The Egyptian foreign minister says the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt will start operating “soon” as officials prepare for a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza as part of the ceasefire set to take effect on Sunday.

Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty did not specify when exactly the crossing will open. The crossing, Gaza’s main gateway to the outside world, has been closed since the Israeli army took over the area last May.

Abdelatty said 600 trucks of aid should be entering Gaza daily during the ceasefire, including 50 fuel trucks.