Germany urges Yemeni rivals to implement ceasefire

By Ayhan Simsek </p> <p>BERLIN (AA) – Germany on Tuesday called on warring parties in Yemen to implement their ceasefire agreement and withdraw troops quickly from the ports of Al-Hudaydah. </p> <p>In a statement posted on Twitter, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas reaffirmed Berlin’s support for the UN-led Yemen peace talks and urged the parties of the conflict to take concrete steps. </p> <p>“The parties must show that they are serious and they have an interest in building mutual confidence,” he said. </p> <p>“The agreements on the withdrawal troops from the ports and critical parts of Al-Hudaydah city must be realized quickly and without delay,” he added. </p> <p>Maas also announced that Germany would allocate €100 million (approx. $113.7 million) in aid for the UN’s humanitarian efforts in the country. </p> <p>Yemen has been wracked by violence since 2014 when the Shia Houthi group overran much of the country.</p> <p>The crisis escalated in 2015 when the Saudi-led coalition launched a devastating air campaign aimed at rolling back Houthi gains. </p> <p>On Dec. 13, Yemeni peace talks held in Sweden concluded with a ceasefire deal in Al-Hudaydah between Houthis and the Yemeni government. </p> <p>The warring parties, however, have failed to withdraw from the city amid accusations of breaching the agreement.