Adnan Huzam, spokesman of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), told Anadolu Agency (AA) that in accordance with the agreement reached in Switzerland, a prisoner exchange operation was launched between the Yemeni government and the Houthis.
Noting that it was a pleasure for the prisoners to be reunited with their families, Huzam also stated that this was an important step in establishing relations between the conflicting parties in Yemen.
Huzam expressed his wish for more prisoner exchanges thanks to such steps.
On the other hand, according to the information received from local sources, the people released by the Yemeni government reached Sana’a at the same time that the prisoners released by the Houthis arrived at Aden International Airport by ICRC plane.
Among those released by the Houthis, Yemen’s Defense Minister Muhsin ed-Dairi, Aden Governor Ahmed Hamid Lemles and some government officials met with former President Abdurabbu Mansur Hadi’s brother Nasser Mansur and former Defense Minister Mahmud es-Sabihi. reported in.
As part of the first phase of the swap, 250 people from the Houthis and 70 from the Yemeni government are expected to be released today.
A total of 887 people are expected to be released.
The Yemeni government and the Houthis started prisoner exchange talks in Switzerland on March 11, under the auspices of the United Nations.
As a result of negotiations, the parties agreed on the mutual release of 887 people, including 4 journalists and well-known political, military and security officials, on 20 March.