A malnourished child is seen at a hospital in Hajjah province, Yemen, Oct. 1, 2018. (Xinhua/Mohammed Mohammed)

UNITED NATIONS, July 15 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Security Council on Monday decided to extend its political mission in Yemen for six months until Jan. 15, 2020.

Through Resolution 2481, the Council decided to extend until Jan. 15, 2020, the mandate of the UN Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA) between the Yemeni government and the Houthi militia reached in Sweden in December 2018 regarding the city and port of Hodeidah and the ports of Salif and Ras Issa.

The Council underlined the importance of "close collaboration and co-ordination" between all UN entities operating in Yemen in order "to prevent duplication of effort and to maximize the leveraging of existing resources."

It also requested the secretary-general "to fully deploy UNMHA expeditiously," and called on the parties to the Hodeidah agreement to support the UN ... including by ensuring the safety and security of UNMHA personnel, and the unhindered and expeditious movement into and within Yemen of UNMHA personnel and equipment, provisions and essential supplies.

The Security Council requested the secretary-general to report to the council on a monthly basis on progress regarding the implementation of this resolution.

On Jan. 16 this year, the Council passed Resolution 2452 in which it created UNMHA with an initial mandate of six months.