"Numbers in My Next Briefings Will Be Worse," Says Emergency Relief Coordinator
Fear of Yemen plunging back into widespread conflict is "palpable", the United Nations' top official in that country told the Security Council today, calling on the parties to refrain from military posturing and instead agree on a nationwide ceasefire.
"I see and hear the deep frustration of the Yemeni people who continue to bear the heavy burden of a decade of war" and whose grinding hardship "only deepens", said Hans Grundberg, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen. He added that gross domestic product (GDP) per capita has more than halved, the Yemeni rial in Government-controlled areas has fallen by 50 per cent in the last year and poverty has surged across the country.
Even though large-scale ground operations have not resumed since the UN-mediated truce was implemented in April 2022, he reported that military activity continues. On that, he voiced concern over recent reports of shelling, drone attacks, infiltration attempts and mobilization campaigns recently witnessed in Ma'rib, Al Jawf, Shabwa and Ta'iz. Relatedly, he warned against a rise in rhetoric from the parties, who are pre-positioning themselves publicly for military confrontation. Words, intent and signals matter, and "escalatory discourse can have real consequences", he added.
Stressing that his team remains "undeterred" amid enormous challenges, he highlighted its recent, relentless engagement with both Yemeni and international stakeholders. To settle the conflict, the parties must agree on a nationwide ceasefire and a mechanism to implement it. Furthermore, he underlined the need for a political process that includes "a broad spectrum of Yemenis that will allow this conflict to settle once and for all".
While welcoming the continued cessation of attacks by Ansar Allah on vessels in the Red Sea and targets in Israel during the last month, he emphasized that "enabling environments for peace can be fragile and fleeting" and "positive developments must be put on a more-permanent footing". Reiterating his determination to convene the parties at any opportunity to end this decade-long conflict, he stated: "We owe it to the millions of Yemenis not to waver or falter in our determination on this."
"I am not here to defend programmes, spreadsheets and institutions, but people," said Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator. Severe funding cuts are a "body blow", he stressed. Humanitarian coordinators are analysing where to make dramatic cuts, as well as "the implications of the tough choices we are making on which lives not to save", he added. On the United States' designation of the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization, he said that it is vital to ensure civilians in Yemen have access to essential food and medicine - whether through commercial or humanitarian channels.
Continuing, he observed that 9.6 million women and girls in Yemen are in severe need of life-saving humanitarian assistance, while 1.5 million girls remain out of school - preventing them from breaking cycles of discrimination. "As your funding for Yemen evaporates, the numbers in my next briefings will be worse," he warned, adding that more women will die and more will be forced into survival sex, begging, coerced prostitution, human trafficking and selling their children. And yet, he noted, women remain on the frontlines of survival and recovery - 40 per cent of the Yemen Humanitarian Fund goes to women-led organizations, most of which are local.
Also briefing the Council today was Nesmah M. Ali, civil-society representative from the Peace Track Initiative, who said that Yemen's myriad crises have weakened State institutions, collapsed social protection systems and created multidimensional insecurities. Recalling that she was forced to leave her hometown in 2020, she stated: "I am a migrant of conflict and climate change." The war has devastated Yemen's environment, she said, adding that attacks on oil refineries and ports, landmines in fields and coastal areas and destruction of power stations and water systems have left that country in ruins.
And climate change is deepening Yemen's crisis, she stressed, as floods displace landmines, complicate demining actions and exacerbate pre-war intertribal conflicts over scarce resources. While women are disproportionately affected by climate change and more vulnerable to natural disasters, their stories of determination - "amid vanishing fish, ruined crops and deferred dreams" - highlight their unwavering strength, and she urged the Council to prioritize the impact of climate change and conflict on gender equality.
Council Members Condemn Detentions
In the ensuing discussion, many Council members condemned the ongoing detention by the Houthis - officially known as Ansar Allah - of UN personnel and the tragic death of a World Food Programme (WFP) staff member in their captivity.
Among them was Panama's delegate, who called for the immediate and unconditional release of all humanitarian and diplomatic personnel, as well as respect for their fundamental human rights. The representative of France urged the Houthis to end all threats and disinformation campaigns against humanitarian actors. Picking up that thread, the United Kingdom's delegate expressed support for the UN's decision to pause humanitarian operations in Saada, describing this pause as "a direct consequence" of the Houthi threat undermining the security and safety of aid workers.
United States Designates Houthis as Terrorist Organization, Others Urge Dialogue
The representative of the United States said that her country is taking concrete steps to eliminate the Houthis' capabilities by designating them as a foreign terrorist organization and using targeted sanctions to deprive them of illicit revenues. "Our sanctions seek to preserve space for legitimate activities that support Yemenis living in Houthi-controlled territory who bear no responsibility for the Houthis' malign actions," she stressed. Washington, D.C., will also take steps to stop Iran's support for Houthi terrorism, and she added: "We will take action against the Houthis should they resume their reckless attacks in the Red Sea and surrounding waterways and on Israel."
However, her counterpart from the Russian Federation called on the United States Government to reconsider its decision to designate Ansar Allah as a terrorist organization, stressing that "openly antagonising one of the key sides to the conflict will do no good". The voices of all political forces must be considered, and the ineffective logic of maximum pressure abandoned, he stressed, drawing attention to Moscow's proposal to create a framework for collective security in the Persian Gulf.
Pakistan's delegate also emphasized the critical role of dialogue, highlighting regional initiatives led by Saudi Arabia and Oman. He also noted that there have been no new attacks on commercial shipping since the onset of the ceasefire in Gaza. "While we unequivocally condemn such attacks," he added that it is crucial to acknowledge that "the absence of the attacks coincides with the maintenance of the ceasefire in Gaza".
While also welcoming the pause in attacks in the Red Sea and on Israel, the representative of the Republic of Korea voiced concern over the Houthis' "repeatedly declared" readiness to resume such attacks if the hard-won ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza breaks down. "This is simply unacceptable," he asserted.
Speakers Underline Nexus between Conflict and Environment
On the fragile situation on the ground, the speaker for Greece said that "the risk of military escalation has not eclipsed". As a historic seafaring nation, Greece supports the freedom of navigation and is committed to safeguarding maritime security in the region. Highlighting the interconnectedness of climate, peace and security, he said that the FSO Safer and the Greek-flagged MV Sounion cases demonstrated the conflict's environmental and humanitarian consequences.
The convergence of prolonged conflict, environmental degradation and climate change has created a perfect storm of crises in Yemen, echoed Denmark's delegate, Council President for March, speaking in her national capacity. As the world's third-most vulnerable country to climate change, Yemen is highly affected by climate-induced disasters, she observed, urging the Council to ensure that climate considerations are integrated into peacebuilding strategies, local mediation efforts and a future peace settlement process.
Also highlighting the impact of climate change and conflict on food and water insecurity, the representative of Slovenia - whose country is a founding member of the Global Alliance to Spare Water from Armed Conflicts - called for the protection and development of water resources and infrastructure in Yemen. "We strongly believe that water issues can be an entry point for grassroots dialogue and mutual understanding between parties, as well as empowering women," he added.
Painting a grim picture of the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen, Sierra Leone's delegate - who also spoke for Algeria, Guyana and Somalia - called for increased support for the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan. "Despite shrinking aid budgets, we recognize the tireless efforts of humanitarian organizations and their personnel to meet the urgent needs of the Yemeni people," he said. China's representative also urged States to increase humanitarian assistance and prioritize food security, emphasizing that "a political solution is a fundamental way out of the Yemeni issue".
Yemen's Speaker Urges Aid Organizations Relocate to Aden
As the conflict enters its eleventh year, the Yemeni people aspire to peace, said that country's representative. However, these aspirations could not materialize due to the destructive approach of Iran-backed Houthi militias who rejected all efforts to that end, he said, welcoming the United States' designation of the Houthis as a terrorist organization. He underscored the importance of strategic partnerships to support the Government's efforts to end the coup, restore State institutions and extend State authority over all Yemeni soil.
He further stressed that, despite the economic, humanitarian, social and institutional challenges caused by the war, the Government is making "tremendous efforts" to address currency depreciation and unemployment. Condemning the ongoing detention of international personnel, he cautioned that the militias "will not stop their blackmailing of the international community". Accordingly, he urged the UN and other international organizations to transfer their headquarters to Aden, the temporary capital.
