The head of EU diplomacy, Federica Mogherini, and the EU Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, Christos Stylianides, have issued a joint statement in which they called on the sides of the conflict in Yemen to abide by the truce without preconditions and to ensure unhindered access of ordinary Yemenis to food and fuel.
Mogherini and Stylianides and believe the initiative of Saudi Arabia is "an important opportunity to tackle the dramatic humanitarian situation in Yemen". "All parties should rapidly abide by the truce without preconditions in order to ensure immediate and unhindered access of ordinary Yemenis in need to aid and essential supplies, including fuel, food and basic commodities," RIA Novosti cited the statement.
In addition, they called on the sides ensure the safety and security of relief workers and facilitate the passage of convoys and ambulances. "The fighting sides have to refrain from the direct targeting of civilian areas and to fully respect international humanitarian law," Mogherini and Stylianides noted.
