New York – 15 February 2022 | The Security Council discussed today the situation in Yemen. The SC members were briefed on the latest developments on the ground by the UN Special Representative for Yemen, Mr. Hans Grundberg, and by the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and the Emergency Relief Coordinator, Mr. Martin. Griffiths. Ambassador Ferit Hoxha also addressed the Security Council in his capacity as Chairman of the 2140 Committee on the Sanctions regime for Yemen. He presented to the members of the Council the periodic report of the activities and work of this Committee for the last year.
In his speech Grundberg described the situation of military escalation in Yemen as very worrying and its impact on civilians and on the region as a whole. He called on the parties in conflict to respect the international humanitarian law, as well as the rights of women, civil society representatives and journalists.
On his part, Mr. Griffiths said that the humanitarian situation in Yemen is almost catastrophic and that the cessation of humanitarian aid to the country is a death sentence for millions of people living with this aid.
Members of the Security Council expressed their concern over the dire humanitarian situation, the escalation of fighting between the parties and the increase of cross-border drone strikes, unanimously condemning attacks on civilians and civilian facilities. The meeting also generated widespread support among member states for Grundberg’s work and the political consultations that he will undertake for the benefit of the development of the Working Framework. The SC members expressed support for a comprehensive UN-backed political process as the best way to move the process forward.
In his remarks, Ambassador Ferit Hoxha expressed concern about the high number of victims due to this conflict and the deteriorating humanitarian situation that the Yemeni people are facing. Emphasizing the disturbing situation of women and children in conflict, he also called for the release of women, journalists and political activists, who are being held in solitary confinement, becoming subjects of extinction. Regarding the security situation, the representative of Albania condemned the intensification of drone attacks by the Houthis on the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. At the end, Ambassador Hoxha expressed support for the work of Grundberg and called for a comprehensive political process in Yemen, especially in terms of full, equal and meaningful involvement of women in this process.
