The prospect of a return to war in Yemen is “real”, UN special envoy to the country Hans Grundberg has said.
He was speaking after meetings with Yemeni, Saudi and Omani officials in Riyadh and Muscat this week as the deadline for renewing Yemen's truce approaches.
“We are at a crossroads where the risk of a return to war is real and I am urging the parties to choose an alternative that prioritises the needs of the Yemeni people”, Mr Grundberg said after the meetings on Tuesday evening.
Yemen has been experiencing relative calm and a significant reduction in violence on front lines since the UN-brokered truce among warring parties took effect in April.
It has since been renewed three times for two-month iterations and is set to expire on Saturday as the UN seeks a broader expansion.
The UN has been calling for a wider truce that extends beyond two months but long-standing sticking issues such as reopening the roads around the besieged city of Taez and paying civil servants' salaries after six years of stagnation have prevented real progress towards political peace from being made.
Deadly violations of the truce by the Iran-backed Houthis, including an attack that killed 10 military personnel in Taez last month, have also made matters more complicated for the government.
During the 77th UN General Assembly in New York last week, the head of Yemen's Presidential Council Rashad Al Alimi said his country welcomes the truce as long as it does not take place at the expense of the Yemeni public.
The truce has brought several benefits to Yemenis including the reopening of flights in and out of the Houthi-controlled capital Sanaa, after the airport had been closed for six years, as well as fuel imports through the port of Hodeidah.
“Tangible benefits of the truce to the Yemeni people include a 60 per cent reduction in casualties, the quadrupling of fuel through Hodeidah port, and commercial flights from Sanaa allowing 21,000 passenger to receive medical treatment and unite with families,” the UN said at a Security Council meeting early this month.
But not all Yemenis seemed to acknowledge the UN efforts or the results brought about since the agreement in April. Many expressed their disapproval by responding to the UN envoy's tweet about his regional meetings.
“What does the renewal of a truce mean if the conditions of the first and second version were not even met,” wrote Twitter user Mohammad Al Ghulisi.
“Extending the truce without the payment of salaries is folly and pointless,” wrote civil engineer Hamood Alhaddad.
“Open the roads to Taez. Enough lying to the people!” wrote Azan Almohalal.
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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Explainer: Tanween Design Programme
Non-profit arts studio Tashkeel launched this annual initiative with the intention of supporting budding designers in the UAE. This year, three talents were chosen from hundreds of applicants to be a part of the sixth creative development programme. These are architect Abdulla Al Mulla, interior designer Lana El Samman and graphic designer Yara Habib.
The trio have been guided by experts from the industry over the course of nine months, as they developed their own products that merge their unique styles with traditional elements of Emirati design. This includes laboratory sessions, experimental and collaborative practice, investigation of new business models and evaluation.
It is led by British contemporary design project specialist Helen Voce and mentor Kevin Badni, and offers participants access to experts from across the world, including the likes of UK designer Gareth Neal and multidisciplinary designer and entrepreneur, Sheikh Salem Al Qassimi.
The final pieces are being revealed in a worldwide limited-edition release on the first day of Downtown Designs at Dubai Design Week 2019. Tashkeel will be at stand E31 at the exhibition.
Lisa Ball-Lechgar, deputy director of Tashkeel, said: “The diversity and calibre of the applicants this year … is reflective of the dynamic change that the UAE art and design industry is witnessing, with young creators resolute in making their bold design ideas a reality.”
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
UAE%20SQUAD
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HEADLINE HERE
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Zimbabwe v UAE, ODI series
All matches at the Harare Sports Club:
1st ODI, Wednesday, April 10
2nd ODI, Friday, April 12
3rd ODI, Sunday, April 14
4th ODI, Tuesday, April 16
UAE squad: Mohammed Naveed (captain), Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Shaiman Anwar, Mohammed Usman, CP Rizwan, Chirag Suri, Mohammed Boota, Ghulam Shabber, Sultan Ahmed, Imran Haider, Amir Hayat, Zahoor Khan, Qadeer Ahmed
Dubai Rugby Sevens
November 30-December 2, at The Sevens, Dubai
Gulf Under 19
Pool A – Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jumeirah College Tigers, Dubai English Speaking School 1, Gems World Academy
Pool B – British School Al Khubairat, Bahrain Colts, Jumeirah College Lions, Dubai English Speaking School 2
Pool C - Dubai College A, Dubai Sharks, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Al Yasmina
Pool D – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Deira International School
