Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I am happy to be with you today. This is the first time I have had the opportunity to brief this Council in person since I announced the truce in April. The truce has now held in Yemen for two and a half months. Something unprecedented during this war, and something that seemed unimaginable at the start of the year. The parties recently extended the truce, on the same terms, until August 2 this year. And I commend the parties for their leadership and for listening to the voices of millions of Yemenis who have called for respite and a chance for peace after more than seven years of conflict.

Mister President, two and a half months into the truce, I would like to take stock of the status of the implementation of the truce, highlight the challenges and chart the way forward.

First, the truce continues to hold militarily. There have been no confirmed airstrikes inside Yemen or cross-border attacks emanating from Yemen since the start of the agreement. And there was a significant reduction in the number of civilian casualties. However, casualties from landmines and unexploded ordnance are unfortunately increasing as civilians, including children, venture into contaminated frontline areas that were previously inaccessible.

Mister President, despite the overall reduction in fighting, we continue to receive reports from both sides of alleged violations inside Yemen **, ** including bombings, drone attacks, reconnaissance overflights and redeployment of forces . Armed clashes were reported on multiple fronts, with the majority of incidents reported in Ma’rib, Taiz and Hudaydah governorates. As you know, we do not have independent monitoring capabilities, but I take all of these allegations very seriously. It is essential to prevent such alleged incidents from triggering a spiral of renewed escalation and violence. In this context, I am pleased to announce that my Office has convened the first two meetings of the Military Coordination Committee, composed of representatives of the parties in addition to the Coalition Joint Forces Command. The Committee agreed to meet monthly and set up a joint coordination room to address issues of concern in a timely manner. Face-to-face meetings are an important first step towards building trust and improving communication between parties.

**M. Mr President, ** the last time I informed this Council, the first commercial flight to Amman had just taken place the day before, after almost six years of closure of Sana’a airport. Since then, we have also launched flights to Cairo. To date, we have had eight return commercial flights carrying 2,795 passengers from Sana’a to Amman and Cairo. I would like to acknowledge the efforts of the Government of Yemen to prioritize the needs of Yemenis by facilitating this opening of the airport. And I would like to reiterate my sincere thanks to the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their instrumental role in facilitating these flights.

The steady flow of fuel to the port of Hudaydah was maintained throughout the truce. During the months of April and May, more than 480,000 metric tons of petroleum products cleared customs – more fuel than entered Hudaydah all of last year. Since the start of the renewed truce, 2 ships have been released and I hope that the momentum of the last truce will not be lost. Regular fuel delivery has eased pressure on vital services, drastically reduced queues at gas stations that dominated the streets of Sanaa and made it easier for Yemenis to travel across the country. As we will hear from OCHA’s Ghada Mudawi, these are some of the positive humanitarian implications of the truce.

**M. Mr. President, ** it is essential that this truce also helps to alleviate the suffering of the people of Taiz. For years, their freedom of movement has been severely hampered by the conflict. As Taizis knows all too well, the only open roads to town are long and arduous. Last November, I myself traveled for more than six hours along the narrow, winding and rugged mountainous road from Aden to the city of Taiz. Before the conflict, the same journey on the main road took only three hours. In Taiz, I met men, women and young people, who told me about their daily difficulties caused by the closure of access roads inside and outside the city. I have also witnessed firsthand how the harsh restrictions have crippled the economy, worsened access to health care and endangered the movement of civilians.

Following the appointment of their respective delegations, I convened the parties in Amman to reach an agreement on the opening of roads in Taiz and other governorates. I would like to highlight the essential role played by local mediators and civil society representatives present at the meeting, expressing their views and priorities and providing their expertise on the opening of roads.

After two rounds of frank and constructive deliberations on the views and options proposed by each party, I presented to the parties a proposal for the progressive opening of the roads. The proposal includes a main road from Taiz city to the Hawban area east of the city, as well as additional roads in Taiz and other governorates. The proposal also includes elements for an implementation mechanism and commitments to civilian traveler security. Although I am encouraged by the Yemeni Government’s positive response to the United Nations proposal, I am still awaiting a response from Ansar Allah. Following the constructive discussions I had in Sanaa at the end of last week, I urge Ansar Allah to respond positively to the United Nations proposal without delay.

**M. Mr President, **the last few weeks have shown the fragility of the truce and that delays in implementation could threaten to undo it in its entirety. Resorting to transactionalism, threatening to condition the implementation of one element of the truce on another, and using escalating media rhetoric undermines the truce. It is ultimately up to the parties to preserve the truce and keep its promise for the benefit of the Yemenis.

**M. Mr. President, ** over the past two and a half months, the truce has created a more conducive environment for the parties to engage in good faith. Yet the implementation of the truce has brought to the surface more contentious issues with political implications, such as revenue management, payment of public sector salaries, travel documents and a more durable ceasefire. These are issues that are political in nature and related to governance and we need to move towards a more sustainable arrangement on these issues.

Some of these issues have indeed been highlighted during my ongoing consultations to help formulate priorities for a structured multi-pronged process. Over the past month, I have held consultations with Yemeni public figures, various women’s constituencies, economic experts and the private sector to inform the design and substance of such a process. Themes that emerged from these consultations included the need to turn the truce into a lasting ceasefire in the perspective of longer-term security arrangements; and an urgent call for public sector wage payment and revenue management, monetary policy coordination, and reconstruction. Participants also highlighted the need to ensure that the political process is more inclusive, with women, youth and civil society represented across the different streams. My office has long recognized the valuable contribution of Yemeni peacemakers, and I therefore look forward to listening to Ms. Azal Al-Salafi’s briefing.

The political, security and economic issues raised by Yemenis during the various rounds of consultations gave us a direction to move forward. As we work to consolidate the benefits of the truce, it is important to recognize that a structured, inclusive and multi-pronged process can provide the platform needed to achieve such lasting solutions. It will also be an opportunity to move Yemen forward towards a lasting political settlement that responds to the legitimate aspirations and demands of Yemeni women and men.

Over the next month and a half, I will pursue two major areas of effort. First, I will work with the parties to ensure the implementation and consolidation of all elements of the truce, including the opening of roads in Taiz and other governorates. Second, I will work to find more durable solutions to pressing economic and security needs. As such, I plan to initiate negotiations on the economic and security aspects. This work must be anchored in a political context, geared towards political settlement.

Mister President, I remain deeply grateful for the continued support I receive from this Council, as well as from the Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and from the international community as a whole. Such support will remain essential in the months to come. However, it is ultimately up to the parties to seize this opportunity, negotiate in good faith and make the necessary compromises in the interest of Yemen as a whole. The truce offers a rare opportunity to pivot towards peace that must not be lost.

Thank you very much,** Mr. President.**