KUWAIT, May 5 (KUNA) -- The United Nation's (UN) Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed expressed concern Thursday over "numerous" violations of an agreement to a truce in Yemen, noting that this should not be detrimental to the peace talks in Kuwait.
In a press conference, Ahmed said that he is reviewing this issue with firm support from the international community.
"Tension on the ground should not affect peace talks, instead, we should help to facilitate these talks," he said, adding that a solution to the conflict in Yemen can only be a political one.
The UN Special Envoy for Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said that the Yemeni stakeholders had renewed their call to the De-escalation and Coordination Committee (DCC) and the local ones to consolidate the ceasefire in the concerend provinces.
The consultations in Kuwait are ongoing and "the will and the determination" to conclude a solution will not recede, the envoy told the press conference.
The UN stressed the necessity of assessing local committees' work, to start with Ta'z as a model to secure delivery of humanitarian aid, he said.
Participants have formed three work teams to discuss the security and political paths, as well as the issue of detainees, prompted by eagerness to push a head the wheel of peace, Ould Cheikh Ahmed added.
They have already embarked on their task and reviewed the work mechanisms, he said. "This is a promising beginning." Referring to the humanitarian side, the envoy pointed to UN reports that the ceasefire opened the way for humanitarian organizations to fulfil their task and deliver aid.
For instance, drinking water has been distributed and medical teams have begun to secure health services in Ta'z.
By the same token, several initiatives have been launched in Hajjah and Al Jawf to provide protection for children and training for specialists to offer psychological support. In addition, basic commodities have been presented to nine million people, the UN envoy said.
The humanitarian needs are tremendous, but these are positive signs, he said, expressing hope that the humanitarian organizations would be able over the coming days to make further progress. He urged all the Yemeni stakeholders to assist the organizations nationwide.
Meanwhile, Ould Cheikh Ahmed emphasized the role of Yemeni women to give impetus to the peace process.
Out of a belief in the significance of involving the women at that sensitive stage of Yemeni's history, cooperation has been decided with some Yemeni female leaders as "voices for peace." They reflect the views of female compatriots at home, he told the conference.
Seven Yemeni woman leaders arrived in Kuwait on Wednesday and met with those in charge of the Yemeni file, urging them to work for a comprehensive political solution to restore peace and security to the country.
The envoy said that women's role was of prior significance during the national dialogue in Yemen and remains at the core of the current stage and in reconstruction.
The Kuwait consultations offer a historical opportunity, that may never come again, for a peaceful solution in Yemen, he said.
All spectrum of Yemeni's want peace and officials have to listen to their voices and make the utmost of the opportunity, he noted.
The envoy concluded with a stress on the unity among the international community to find a solution to the Yemeni crisis.
The UN special envoy said that a truce came into full effect on April 10 with the aim of facilitating the advent of humanitarian aid into Yemen, while creating an atmosphere conducive to peace talks held in Kuwait.
The agreement for a truce has made significant strides, with around an 80 to 90% ceasefire in place in Yemen, according to reports coming out of the country, Ahmed noted.
"We should put an end to all truce violations to ensure the proper atmosphere for talks," Ahmed added.
The UN special envoy also thanked Kuwait's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Abdullatif Al-Zayani for their efforts to bring a peaceful solution to the conflict in Yemen.
The De-escalation and Coordination Committee (DCC) is due to submit a report on Friday over potential ceasefire violations in Yemen, he revealed.
Yemen's warring parties resumed negotiations on Wednesday after the government's delegation pulled out of the talks due to an attack on a military base in the north of the country.
The talks encompassed both parties' viewpoints on issues including giving up arms and returning to political dialogue, in addition to the plight of prisoners and detainees. Both parties also welcomed the start of UN investigative works, the UN special envoy noted. (end) rkf.nma.hrz.nam