Security Council Discusses Developments in Yemen

The UN Security Council held a briefing session this evening on the latest developments in Yemen, amid growing concerns over the expansion of tensions and the worsening humanitarian situation in the country.

Council members heard a briefing from Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for Middle East, Asia and the Pacific in the Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, who emphasized that Yemen and the region cannot afford a new round of escalation.

Khiari called on all parties to engage constructively in UN-mediated negotiations, stressing that dialogue is a necessary path to ensure de-escalation and preserve opportunities for reaching a political settlement.

The Council also heard a briefing from Indrika Ratwatte, Acting Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, who warned of the worsening humanitarian crisis in Yemen at a time when the capacity to respond to growing needs is sharply declining.

Ratwatte explained that Yemen faces a deteriorating food security situation, along with the expected impacts of the El Niño phenomenon on agricultural production and livelihoods, as well as an unprecedented decline in humanitarian funding, which increases the vulnerability of the population and limits the ability of humanitarian organizations to provide aid.

He pointed out that food security indicators paint a worrying picture, with more than 18 million people in Yemen suffering from hunger, many of whom face acute levels of food insecurity.

In the same context, the United Nations confirmed that it is closely monitoring developments in Yemen, expressing grave concern over the risks of widening escalation and its repercussions on civilians and the humanitarian situation.

The UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said he has conducted extensive contacts with various parties, urging them to de-escalate and engage in dialogue and negotiations under UN auspices.

Grundberg stressed the importance of maintaining the relative calm that Yemen has witnessed since 2022, and working to make progress toward a sustainable end to the conflict and a comprehensive political settlement.