In the vicinity of Marib in western Yemen, stranded migrants live in deplorable conditions.
In a briefing to the Security Council today, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg noted that Yemen's predicament is further intertwined with broader geopolitical dynamics as tensions rise across the Middle East.
While stressing the urgent need to de-escalate the situation, Grundberg warned of dangerous consequences for ignoring Yemen's fragile stability as the regional crisis widens.
"We cannot risk Yemen's chances of peace, and we cannot allow it to suffer collateral damage [of the regional crisis]," he told the members of the Security Council. ”
He also warned that "if we put the political process in Yemen behind us and continue down this path of escalation, the consequences could be catastrophic, both for Yemen and for the wider region." ”
The situation worsened
Grundberg said the continuation of the fighting in Gaza could lead to further escalation.
"Recent developments in Iran and Israel underscore the urgency of this issue," he said. He stressed that the entire region must "seek ways to achieve coexistence based on trust-building and mutual security, with the support of the international community, and move away from the zero-sum mentality of winning at the expense of others."
He also noted that while the situation in Yemen remains volatile, the Houthis continue to launch attacks against commercial and military vessels in the Red Sea, while the United States and the United Kingdom continue to respond with air strikes in Hodeidah, Hajjah, Sana'a, and Taiz provinces.
Missed opportunities for reconciliation
Grundberg also deplored the missed opportunity for reconciliation by the Yemeni parties during the holy month of Ramadan.
He said that during the past two years of Ramadan, the parties had agreed on a temporary ceasefire and the release of detainees, but this year the situation was very different, with detainees who should have been released remaining in custody and civilian casualties, including women and children.
He stressed that instead of narrowing differences and building confidence, there was a growing gap between the parties, which was disturbing. At the same time, he pointed out that unilateral actions by all parties could further tear Yemen's economic system apart.
Humanitarian crisis
Edem Wosornu, Director of the Operations and Communications Division of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, also briefed the Security Council on the same day. Against the backdrop of the ongoing political and security crisis, the resurgence of cholera outbreaks in many parts of Yemen and the continued increase in severe malnutrition have put the humanitarian situation in the country in dire straits, she said.
She stressed that women, girls, displaced and marginalized groups are among the most vulnerable groups in Yemen and continue to rely on humanitarian assistance for their survival.
Wosolnu also noted that hunger and nutritional insecurity in Yemen are expected to worsen as the lean harvest approaches, putting millions of people at risk. She said that while community-led action can provide temporary relief, sustained support is needed to avert an imminent crisis.
However, there is a worrying shortfall in funding for the 2024 humanitarian response plan in Yemen, which is hampering relief efforts.
Despite the efforts of humanitarian agencies to streamline operations and reduce funding requirements, only 10 percent of the funds needed for the response plan have so far been in place, Wosolnu added. To that end, she called for urgent action to close the funding gap so that life-saving assistance reaches those most in need.
