Representatives from Yemen's government and members of the Iran-backed Houthis (Ansarallah) tasked with pulling forces out of the Red Sea port city of al-Hodeidah met Sunday (July 14th) for the first time in five months, AFP reported.
The redeployment from al-Hodeidah is a critical part of a ceasefire deal reached in December in Sweden that calls on the government and the Houthis to move forces away from ports and parts of the city.
"The joint meeting of the redeployment co-ordination (committee) started earlier this afternoon," a UN official said, adding it was set to continue Monday.
The last meeting was held in February, the official said.
The UN head of the committee confirmed the meeting "aboard a UN vessel on the high seas", adding it would centre on "steps to implement" the al-Hodeidah pullback plan.
The committee established under the Sweden agreement includes representatives from the UN, the Yemeni government and the Houthis.
The pullback was supposed to have taken place two weeks after the ceasefire went into force on December 18th, but that deadline was missed.
In May, the UN announced the Houthis had withdrawn from al-Hodeidah and two other nearby ports, the first practical step on the ground since the ceasefire deal.
But the government accused the militia of faking the pullout, saying it had merely handed control to its allies.
The UN confirmed in June there had been no Houthi military presence in all three ports since their withdrawal a month before.
The UN is hoping that a de-escalation in al-Hodeidah will allow desperately-needed food and medical aid to reach millions in need in Yemen.
