Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
UNITED NATIONS, 15th Feb. UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg said on Wednesday that the shockwaves from Gaza war continue to reverberate across the wider Middle East region, with the situation in Yemen much more complex than it was a few months ago.
He briefed the Security Council, recalled “steady progress” in UN efforts to mediate the complex decade-long crisis in Yemen set off by the overthrow of the Government by Houthi rebels in 2014.
Grindberg noted that the focus of attention has shifted dramatically since December 2023 due to the Israel-Gaza war and the military escalation in the Red Sea.
He said “As much as I have tried to insulate the peace process from wider regional dynamics, the reality is that mediation efforts in Yemen cannot be neatly cordoned off. What happens regionally impacts Yemen, and what happens in Yemen can impact the region.”
Mr. Grundberg stressed despite the deteriorating situation, efforts to resolve the crisis in Yemen would continue no matter what.
He added that it is vital to preserve the political space and keep open the channels of communication.
Yemen’s civil war began in September 2014 when Houthi rebels took Sana’a, forced the Government to leave, and led a military intervention by a Saudi-led coalition in support of the Government in early 2015.
UN reported that the conflict has resulted in widespread displacement, food and medical shortages, and a cholera outbreak, prompted the UN to label the situation as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with millions of civilians in urgent need of assistance.
Thousands of people have died because of the fighting or due to starvation, and about 15 per cent of the population are displaced – most of whom have been displaced multiple times.
The situation is complicated by political instability and ongoing violence and the spillover of the crisis in Gaza exacerbating the suffering of the civilian population, he stated.
Mr. Grundberg cited “worrying developments” within Yemen and “a sense of foreboding” on several fronts from the economy to public infrastructure and services.
“Although the path to peace now faces more challenges, my mediation approach is flexible enough to adapt to different scenarios and challenges,” he said.
He called for efforts to create an “off-ramp” to the escalating crisis.
Grindberg added that a regional de-escalation is urgently needed.
He noted the need for Yemeni actors to refrain from “military opportunism”, and for parties to refocus on safeguarding the progress made thus far toward reaching an agreement.
“There is no reason Yemenis should be condemned to conditions of war, poverty and repression,” he underscored.
“Yemenis deserve nothing less. We’ve seen successful peace processes in other contexts unlock many of these gains. And in Yemen, there is a compelling alternative to the path of conflict and economic ruin.”
Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations, at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs told the Council members that Yemen remains a picture of “massive, continuing needs.”
OCHA stated that in 2024, over 18.2 million people will need humanitarian assistance and protection services, and over 11 million are children.
Some 70 per cent of three-year-olds have not received a full course of basic vaccinations, 80 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line and less than half of all hospitals are functioning fully or partially, it said.
OCHA stressed that the crisis is complicated by the hostilities in the Red Sea and the impact on aid transport through the Hodeidah and Aden ports.
Ms. Wosornu said “The situation will continue to deteriorate without urgent and sufficient attention”.
She recalled the UN’s $2.7 billion humanitarian appeal to assist some 11.2 million people across the Yemen.
Ms. Wosornu urged the international community to step up and ensure relief operations have the funds they need to reach those in desperate need.
