Aden: A 72-hour ceasefire in Yemen will go into effect before midnight on Wednesday, the United Nations announced on Monday.

A cessation of hostilities that first went into effect in April “will re-enter into force at 23:59 Yemen time (12.59am UAE time)) on 19 October 2016, for an initial period of 72 hours, subject to renewal”, the UN’s special envoy for Yemen, Esmail Ould Shaikh Ahmad, said in a statement.

The statement said Shaikh Ahmad “welcomes the restoration of the cessation of hostilities, which will spare the Yemeni people further bloodshed and will allow for the expanded delivery of humanitarian assistance”.

The announcement comes after Yemeni President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi agreed to the ceasefire in a statement earlier on Monday, a day after international calls for a truce.

He said the warring factions had agreed to follow the terms and conditions of a temporary April ceasefire agreement, and expressed hope that the upcoming ceasefire would lead “to a permanent and lasting end to the conflict”. The agreement, he added, obliges all parties “to allow free and unhindered access for humanitarian supplies and personnel” to all parts of Yemen.

Ould Shaikh Ahmad on Sunday said he had been in contact with the Al Houthi militia’s lead negotiator and Hadi’s government.

The United States, Britain and the UN peace envoy to Yemen on Sunday urged the warring parties in the country’s civil war to declare a ceasefire.

Saudi Arabia’s impoverished neighbour has been rocked by a deadly war since pro-Iran rebels overran the capital Sana’a in September 2014.

However, the conflict escalated after an Arab coalition, led by Riyadh, launched a bombing campaign against Al Houthi rebels and their allies in March 2015.

The conflict in Yemen has killed almost 6,900 people, wounded more than 35,000 and displaced at least three million since March last year, according to the United Nations.

On Sunday, US Secretary of State John Kerry met in London with the UN envoy and his opposite numbers from Britain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE to discuss the Yemen conflict.

“This is the time to implement a ceasefire unconditionally and then move to the negotiating table,” Kerry told reporters after the talks.

Previous attempts to enforce a ceasefire in the country have so far failed with the war intensifying after a round of peace talks in Kuwait ended in August without achieving a breakthrough.

The Saudi-led coalition has stepped up its air raids following the breakdown of talks and cross-border attacks from Yemen have also intensified.

The previous ceasefire, announced in conjunction with the start of the Kuwait talks, was hardly observed on ground, with both sides trading blame for violating the truce.

Earlier this month, the UN envoy had said that a 72-hour ceasefire was expected soon adding that he was hoping to draft a new peace plan for Yemen.

The coalition has carried out hundreds of air strikes and provided ground troops to support Hadi’s forces.

But it has failed to dislodge Al Houthi rebels, who are allied with forces loyal to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh, from key areas including the capital Sana’a.

The rebels still control large parts of the north, their historic stronghold areas, and other regions of western and central Yemen.

Taiz, the country’s third city, is almost completely surrounded by Al Houthis and their allies and loyalist forces have for months tried to break the rebel grip on the southwestern city.

Government forces have recaptured the south and east but failed to make any significant advances.