A tense calm held in the flashpoint city of Hodeidah in Yemen on Tuesday after a United Nations-brokered ceasefire between the Yemeni government and rebel Houthi forces came into effect.

Residents of the city, which is a supply lifeline for millions of Yemenis, told The Independent that clashes had intensified in the lead up to the midnight deadline, sparking fears negotiations had failed.

The breakthrough deal was reached during recent peace talks held in Sweden, which many hope will pave the way for a long-term peace settlement.

Both sides had initially reported violations in Hodeidah, until 3am local time Tuesday, when the shelling stopped.

“There has been complete calm since 3.00am Yemen time (12.00am GMT) in the city of Hodeidah,” a military source loyal to the government said.

Over the weekend residents of the embattled Red Sea city told The Independent many had tried to leave the area, which is home to some 300,000, as the fighting intensified.

“The strikes and the shelling had been very very heavy, the situation was terrible,” said Ashwaq Moharram, a Yemeni doctor who described hospitals coming under fire.

Ms Moharram left Hodeidah for Sanaa fearing that the roads to the Houthi-held capital would be closed indefinitely.

“We just hope the ceasefire holds, we need supplies to come in,” she added.

Yemen has been ripped apart by a four-year war that erupted after the Iran-backed Houthis took control of the capital Sanaa in late 2014, before sweeping across the country in early 2015, ousting recognised president Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi.

Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies launched a bombing campaign in March of the same year to reinstate their ally, fearing the expansion of Iranian influence on their borders.

The impoverished Gulf state is now suffering from the world’s worst humanitarian crisis in terms of numbers.

At least two-thirds of the 29 million population are reliant on aid to survive, while the UN has warned that some 20 million people are on the brink of famine.

As many as 60,000 people are believed to have been killed in the fighting since 2016, according to the latest estimate by monitoring groups.

Exacerbating the crisis is a collapsing health system and the fact government salaries have not been paid since the start of the war.

Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Show all 17 1 /17 Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Doctors take some blood of Yemeni Yousef Abdullah Bakhit Ali, 13, suffering from severe acute malnutrition. With ongoing and unending conflict in Yemen, humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate across the country Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen A doctor weighs Yemeni baby Yahya Hamoud Ali Al Huzef, 9 months suffering from malnutrition Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Ali Mohammed Ahmed Jamal,12 years old and suffering from severe acute malnutrition. He arrives with his family at a Unicef supported treatment centre in a hospital in Sanaa Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen A doctor measures the arm of Yemeni Ali Mohammed Ahmed Jamal, 12, who is suffering from malnutrition at a treatment centre in a hospital in Sanaa Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen There are over 400,000 severely malnourished children in need urgent lifesaving assistance in Yemen Unicef/Abdulhaleem Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Ali Mohammed Ahmed Jamal is weighed Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen A doctor measures the arm of baby Yahya Hamoud Ali Al Huzef Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Unicef are currently working to reach 275,000 malnourished children with critical life-saving supplies and care for over 5 million people with safe and clean water to stop the spread of life-threatening diseases Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Yahya Hamoud Ali Al Huzef with his family in his house in the outskirts of the capital Sanaa Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen The country is on the brink of famine and children's chances of survival are becoming slimmer by the day Unicef/Abdulhaleem Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Ali Mohammed Ahmed Jamal has his arm measured Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Unicef are currently working to provide nearly 1 million children with vaccines and healthcare Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Doctors take some blood of Yemeni Yousef Abdullah Bakhit Ali, 13 years old suffering from severe acute malnutrition at a treatment centre in a hospital in the capital Sanaa on November 2, 2018. (Release obtained) With ongoing and unending conflict in Yemen, humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate across the country. There are over 400,000 severely malnourished children in need urgent lifesaving assistance in Yemen. The country is on the brink of famine and childrenâ€™s chances of survival are becoming slimmer by the day. UNICEF are working with partners around-the clock to save children suffering from malnutrition and disease. We are currently working to reach: â€¢ 275,000 malnourished children with critical life-saving supplies and care â€¢ Over 5 million people with safe and clean water to stop the spread of life-threatening diseases â€¢ Nearly 1 million children with vaccines and healthcare â€¢ 9 million people with emergency cash assistance to help families buy basic commodities so they can survive Â© UNICEF/UN0253367/ Huwais Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Unicef are working with partners around-the clock to save children suffering from malnutrition and disease Unicef/Abdulhaleem Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Unicef are currently working to provide 9 million people with emergency cash assistance to help families buy basic commodities so they can survive Unicef/Huwais Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen Ali Mohammed Ahmed Jamal is suffering from malnutrition Unicef Children suffering from acute malnutrition in Yemen On 31 October 2018 in Yemen, the Al Thawra Hospital in Hodeidah where children are being treated for severe acute malnutrition. UNICEF Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa Geert Cappelaere visited Yemen from 29 October through 1 November 2018. As of 30 October 2018, over 11 million children â€“ 80 per cent of all children in the country â€“ require humanitarian assistance, due to the impact of the ongoing conflict. Worsening years of underdevelopment, attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure and lack of salary payments for most civil servants have pushed basic services for children to the brink. Children face food shortages, disease, displacement and an acute lack of access to basic social services. One out of three children in Yemen is at risk of acute malnutrition. Â© UNICEF/UN0253574/Abdulhaleem Unicef/Abdulhaleem

Yemen’s economy has shrunk by 50 per cent since 2015 and inflation is projected at over 40 per cent this year, according to the World Bank. The currency, meanwhile, has lost two-thirds of its value in the same time period.

The historic talks in Sweden, the first to be held since 2016, saw both Yemeni sides agree to withdraw from Hodeidah, which has been at the epicentre of the latest battle.

Between 70 and 80 percent of all food and medical supplies to Yemen come in through the strategic port. Its closure could have seen millions starve to death.

In the Hodeidah agreement, a joint committee led by UN officers will oversee the ceasefire. Local authorities and police will run the city and its three ports under UN supervision. The two sides are barred from bringing in reinforcements.

Underlining the truce is a huge prisoner swap of as many as 15,000 people. The Red Cross is set to oversee the exchange, the details of which have yet to be confirmed.