Following the *Stockholm Agreement, reached in Sweden on 13 December 2018 at the conclusion of the intra-Yemeni peace consultations under the auspices of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, the Security Council in its resolution 2451 of 21 December 2018 authorized the Secretary-General to deploy an advance team to support the immediate implementation of the Hudaydah governorate-wide ceasefire and a mutual redeployment of forces from the city of Hudaydah and the ports of Hudaydah, Salif and Ras Isa (Hudaydah Agreement). The Security Council also mandated the United Nations to chair the Redeployment Coordination Committee (RCC) established to oversee the ceasefire and the redeployment of forces.
An advance team of UN personnel arrived in Hudaydah city on 22 December 2018 and commenced the provision of UN support for the implementation of the Hudaydah Agreement. On 16 January 2019, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2452 authorizing the establishment of a new Special Political Mission, the United Nations Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA). The Mission brings together a variety of personnel, including military observers and civilian staff, from around the world to deliver on its mandate, with a focus on leading and supporting the functioning of the RCC, and monitoring the compliance of the parties to the ceasefire in Hudaydah.
Since its establishment, UNMHA has maintained dialogue between the Yemeni parties and continues to explore different ways to keep momentum towards the full implementation of the Hudaydah Agreement and related Security Council resolutions. Through sustained engagement, the Mission has supported the parties to finalize agreements on the technical details of a phased redeployment of forces and demilitarization of the ports of Hudaydah, Salif and Ras Isa, which provide a critical commercial and humanitarian artery sustaining the lives of millions in Yemen.
Security Council resolution 2643 of 13 July 2022 contained language in support of the Mission’s efforts to undertake community engagement, which resulted in the initiation of the quick impact projects (QIPs) in 2023. QIPs enable UNMHA to deliver practical, community-driven support in conflict-affected areas of Hudaydah Governorate. Through small-scale, high-impact initiatives implemented with local partners and UN agencies, QIPs strengthen community resilience, support basic services and livelihoods, and enhance trust and engagement at the local level, including with women and youth.
In the conduct of its tasks, the Mission works in close collaboration with the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen and the United Nations Resident Coordinator.
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*The Stockholm Agreement is comprised of agreements on the city and governorate of Hudaydah and the ports of Hudaydah, Salif and Ras Isa; an executive mechanism on activating the prisoner exchange agreement; and a statement of understanding on Taiz. The Stockholm Agreement remains as the only formal agreement reached by the parties to the conflict in Yemen.