Speaking to the UN Security Council on Wednesday, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, called for an end to fighting in Yemen. The casualties and the difficulties encountered by the people in accessing humanitarian aid continued to raise concern during the last 7 years this war is ongoing. UN Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Ramesh Rajasingham underlined that in December alone, the war in Yemen has led to over 15,000 displaced people and resulted in the death or injury of 358 civilians.
In recent years, there were tragic military escalations. The UN staff in Sana and Marib was kidnapped without any information on their whereabouts. Furthermore, Mr. Grundberg referred to the airstrikes in Taiz, an increase of attacks on neighboring Saudi Arabia and the seizure, by Houthi forces, of an Emirati-flagged ship. Moreover, Mr. Grundberg deplored that the provision of humanitarian aid was hampered by frequent road closures and the erection of checkpoints across the country, further aggravated by the militarization of the ports in the Hudaydah district, that constitute 'a lifeline for many Yemenis' due to their reliance on imported aid. As well, the lack of financial support brought to reduce the delivery of food by the World Food Programme (WFP). Additionally, red tape made humanitarian access even more challenging.
The continuous fighting led in particular to a deterioration of the situation of women and girls in the country who are no longer able to exercise their basic human rights, lacking access to education and healthcare and being exposed to sexual and gender-based violence. Mr. Grundberg's office is constantly exploring options to end the fighting, which proves difficult as disagreements and a general lack of trust between the parties hinder a peaceful resolution of the war.
To read more, please visit:
https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/01/1109642
https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/12/1108612
Author: Pietro Mattioli
