The United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed today, Monday, that the parties in conflict in Yemen have agreed to release 887 prisoners following talks in Switzerland and have agreed to meet again in May for further discussions. Daphne Marie, head of the International Committee's mission in Yemen, stated that "this is a critical step that will end the suffering of many separated families and help build trust between the two sides. We hope it will lead to further releases."
Earlier today, both parties announced they had agreed to exchange about 880 prisoners after talks in Switzerland facilitated by the UN and the Red Cross. The Yemeni group "Ansar Allah" announced today that it would release 181 prisoners, including 15 Saudis and three Sudanese, in exchange for 706 "Houthi" prisoners, according to statements on Twitter by Abdul Qadir al-Murtada, head of the prisoner affairs committee for the "Houthi" group, and Mohammed Abd al-Salam, the group's chief negotiator.
Al-Murtada confirmed in a tweet that "an agreement has been reached to implement a large exchange deal involving 706 of our prisoners in exchange for 181 from the other side, including Saudis and Sudanese. The exchange will take place in three weeks... The prisoner swap will occur within three weeks, and another round of talks will take place after the month of Ramadan."
The internationally recognized government, based in Aden, welcomed the agreement. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement, noted that the governmental team "dealt with this important humanitarian issue seriously and responsibly to secure the release of the largest possible number of prisoners and detainees to reunite hundreds of families with their long-awaited loved ones."
It is hoped that reaching an agreement will facilitate broader efforts to end the conflict, which have been bolstered by the resumption of relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia this month. UN Special Envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg informed the UN Security Council last week that there are intensive diplomatic efforts at various levels to end the fighting.
