The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has helped repatriate 128 rebels from Saudi Arabia to Yemen.
It comes two days after the Saudi-led coalition fighting the rebels said they would release 200 Houthi prisoners and allow medical cases to be flown out of Yemen's rebel-held capital.
Sanaa's airport has been closed for years amidst Yemen's ongoing civil war.
At least 7,000 people have died since the conflict began in 2015.
But monitors believe the death toll is far higher. The US-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) said last month that it had recorded more than 100,000 fatalities, including 12,000 civilians killed in direct attacks.
Iran-supported Houthi rebels seized much of the west of Yemen and ousted President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi in March 2015. Saudi Arabia and eight other mostly Sunni Muslim Arab states began an air campaign soon after aimed at restoring Mr Hadi's government.
An ICRC statement said it had helped repatriate the prisoners after a request from the Saudi-led coalition. The group verified prisoner identities and checked that they wanted to return to Yemen before sending them back.
The UN special envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, backed Thursday's repatriation. His office tweeted that he thanked the Saudis for releasing the detainees and for "the opening of Sanaa airport for mercy flights that would allow Yemenis to receive much-needed medical treatment abroad". It remains unclear if the 128 repatriated prisoners are among the 200 Houthi rebels the Saudis announced would be released on Tuesday. Houthi rebels unilaterally released 290 detainees in September. A prisoner swap was part of a UN agreement brokered between warring parties in Sweden last December. Kedir Awol Omar, ICRC Saudi Arabia's head of mission, said he hoped the prisoner releases by the Houthis and the Saudis "will create a positive dynamic and will allow more detainees to be reunited with their families".Today we are repatriating 128 #detainees from #KSA to #Sanaa. We welcome this initiative and we are pleased to see humanitarian considerations taken into account for the sake of the families waiting for their loved ones to return home.
— ICRC Yemen (@ICRC_ye) November 28, 2019
Yemeni detainees hug relatives after being released by Houthis in Sanaa
Fighting in Yemen has caused the world's worst humanitarian crisis. About four-fifths of the population - 24 million people - are in need of humanitarian assistance or protection, including 10 million who rely on food aid to survive. But recent reports suggest peace efforts are gathering pace. A senior Saudi official told Reuters earlier this month that the country had had an "open channel" with the Houthis since 2016. "We are continuing these communications to support peace in Yemen," he said.DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
Latest Stories
-
King Faisal appoint Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid as club chairman
3 mins -
C-WASH donates solar water systems to two Upper East schools to combat water Shortages
12 mins -
I am more than committed to the peace of this nation – Speaker Bagbin
16 mins -
The Cost of Vehicle Usage: A key consideration before your next car purchase
31 mins -
Mission vs Money: Are you a business missionary or mercenary?
38 mins -
All set for Ghana Accountancy and Finance Awards
51 mins -
FIFA unveil new trophy for 2025 Club World Cup
1 hour -
Akwatia chief predicts Mahama’s return to power will mirror Donald Trump’s comeback
1 hour -
Bawumia will be the next president of Ghana – Prophet William Braham
1 hour -
Honouring Jerry John Rawlings: A legacy of ethical leadership, development, and environmental stewardship
1 hour -
Herbert Mensah elected to World Rugby Executive Board
1 hour -
Shatta Wale’s girlfriend welcomes baby girl
1 hour -
AFCON 2025: ‘It’s very disappointing’ – Michail Antonio on Ghana’s potential failure to qualify
1 hour -
NLC secures injunction against Ghana Highway Authority industrial strike
2 hours -
Pencils of Promise commissions 3 Unit Classroom block for Adaklu Seva Basic School
2 hours