REACTION: partial ceasefire in Yemen

“This is a welcome sign that the main protagonists in Yemen are prepared to lower the temperature at a time when the outlook was looking particularly bleak.

“The challenge now is for all sides in the conflict – as well as their international backers – to build on the positive moves of the last few days and use this window of opportunity to push for a nationwide ceasefire. Yemen desperately needs the resumption of talks to secure a lasting peace.

“Yemen cannot afford another false dawn, After almost five years of war, countless civilians’ lives have been blighted by hunger, disease and destruction and four out of every five people need humanitarian assistance.”