ADEN — Yemen’s newly formed presidential council was sworn in Tuesday before parliament in the southern Aden city.

Chairman of the council, Rashad Al-Alimi, and seven other members took the oath before the House of Representatives in the temporary capital, Aden.

The House of Representatives held its session in the presence of UN envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg, as well as ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and European Union countries.

Strict security measures were enforced in the vicinity of the parliament headquarters during the swearing-in ceremony.

On April 7, Former Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi issued an order to form the presidential council to lead the country through a transitional period.

Yemen has been engulfed by violence and instability since 2014, when Iran-aligned Houthi militia captured much of the country, including the capital Sanaa.

Nearly 80%, or about 30 million people, are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection, and more than 13 million in danger of starvation, according to UN estimates. — Agencies