Arab League Secretary General Nabil el Araby called Thursday on rivals in Yemen to respect the humanitarian pause set to come into force as of Friday and last until the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

In a statement, Araby expressed hope that the ceasefire would continue during Eidul Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan.

He renewed the pan-Arab body's support for the UN's envoy to Yemen.

The UN has announced the unconditional week-long humanitarian ceasefire would go in effect as of Friday as 25 million people are believed to be in need of some form of emergency aid.