Grundberg to the Security Council: Achieving Peace in Yemen Requires Urgent International Pressure
Yemen Monitor/Newsroom:
The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, called on the Houthis to “release the remaining detainees unconditionally,” stressing that achieving sustainable peace in the country requires tangible steps that enhance trust between the parties.
In a briefing to the UN Security Council, the UN envoy affirmed that the United Nations’ efforts “will spare no effort to achieve peace,” but warned that “peace and security in Yemen will only be achieved through a supportive international commitment.”
The envoy pointed out that Yemen is “stuck in a cycle of regional crises and economic challenges that the population is suffering from,” noting that stabilizing the situation in the Red Sea and achieving de-escalation there is “a crucial step to return Yemen to the path of peace.”
He continued: “In a clear indication of the depth of the economic crisis Yemen is experiencing, the currency has witnessed a continuous deterioration over the past month, with the exchange rate exceeding 2,500 Yemeni riyals against the dollar, and citizens are facing a continuous deterioration in electricity services in areas under the control of the Yemeni government.”
The UN envoy said that recent reports indicate power outages lasting up to 15 hours a day in Aden, and a complete outage lasting more than two weeks in the neighboring governorates of Lahj and Abyan, noting that demonstrations have taken to the streets in Aden to protest and demand improved public services and basic rights.
He also pointed to the suffering of the population in areas under Houthi control, from a deterioration in purchasing power, as civil servant salaries have not been paid in full for years, the quality of banknotes has deteriorated, and the scarcity of cash has increased.
He noted that as citizens’ inability to purchase the most basic necessities worsens, the voices of civil society in Houthi-controlled areas are being suppressed.
For his part, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen highlighted the deteriorating humanitarian situation, announcing that “nearly 1,000 civilians have been killed since the beginning of this year” as a result of the ongoing conflict and insecurity.
He added that the malnutrition crisis is dangerously worsening, affecting 1.4 million pregnant and lactating women, threatening the lives of an entire generation of children.
The statements of the UN officials came at a time when international efforts to stop the war in Yemen are facing repeated setbacks, amid warnings of an imminent economic collapse that could exacerbate the suffering of Yemenis.
The envoy called on the international community to intensify pressure to stop the escalation and secure political tracks, while the United Nations demanded urgent funding for humanitarian plans to save millions of Yemenis from famine.
It is worth noting that Yemen is experiencing the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations, with a conflict that has been ongoing for nearly a decade, a collapsed economy, and almost non-existent basic services.
