Retired Dutch general Patrick Cammaert (front, 4th L), who is leading a joint committee to monitor the implementation of the UN-backed cease-fire, visits the strategic seaport of Hodeidah, Yemen, on Dec. 24, 2018. The head of the United Nations team tasked with monitoring a fragile cease-fire between the Yemeni warring sides made his first visit to the strategic seaport of Hodeidah on Monday, a government official told Xinhua. (Xinhua/Hasan Bamashmous)
ADEN, Yemen, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- The head of the United Nations team tasked with monitoring a fragile cease-fire between the Yemeni warring sides made his first visit to the strategic seaport of Hodeidah on Monday, a government official told Xinhua.
Retired Dutch general Patrick Cammaert, who is leading a joint committee to monitor the implementation of the UN-backed cease-fire, started his work by visiting the strategic seaport of Hodeidah and inspected the situation around the facility, the government source said on condition of anonymity.
"Cammaert visited the port this morning and is preparing to hold his first meeting with representatives of the two-warring sides to start monitoring the cease-fire," the source said.
The source said that Cammaert will establish his office in Hodeidah and will continue exercising his mission along with the other members of the committee from there.
Cammaert might visit other war-torn areas and the frontlines in Hodeidah in the next days to monitor the situation on-ground closely, according to the source.
The cease-fire deal signed between the two warring rivals last week in Sweden demanded full withdrawal of all armed groups from Hodeidah and its strategic seaports.
According to the deal, the UN will manage the port and supervise the re-deployment of neutral forces there to prevent military escalation, while local forces will help maintain law and order in the city.
Local residents said tense calm was observed in the neighborhoods of Hodeidah despite the heavy deployment of fighters of the two warring sides inside and around the city.
Yemen has been mired in a civil war since late 2014 when the Houthi rebels overtook the capital Sanaa and toppled the government of President Abd-Rabbuh Mansour Hadi. A Saudi-led coalition has been fighting the Houthis since 2015.
The war has killed more than 10,000 people and created a serious humanitarian crisis.
