A fragile political calm in Yemen is fraying, with renewed instability and aid restrictions deepening hunger, illness and displacement for millions of civilians, warned UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg during his monthly briefing at the Security Council on Wednesday..
“Absent a comprehensive approach that addresses Yemen’s many challenges in an integrated manner, rather than in isolation, the risk of recurrent and destabilising cycles will remain,” Grundberg said.
Grundberg said the future of southern Yemen could not be determined “by any single actor or through force,” urging Yemeni leaders to pursue dialogue.
Ramesh Rajasingham, Director of the Humanitarian Sector for the UN aid coordination office (OCHA), said Yemen’s crisis is worsening as needs rise, and humanitarian access has become more restricted amid funding shortfalls.
More than 18 million Yemenis – about half the population – will face acute food insecurity next month, while tens of thousands could fall into “catastrophic hunger,” facing famine-like conditions, he warned.
The health system is also collapsing. Over 450 facilities have already closed and thousands more are at risk of losing funding. Vaccination programmes are also under threat and only two thirds of Yemen’s children are fully immunised, largely due to lack of access in the north.
Humanitarian operations are further constrained by the continued detention of 73 UN staff by the Houthi de facto authorities, Mr. Rajasingham said, calling for their immediate release. The detentions have severely restricted aid delivery in areas home to around 70 per cent of humanitarian needs nationwide.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Security Council also voted to extend for six months, the monthly reporting requirement on attacks by the Houthi rebels against merchant and commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The resolution was adopted with 13 votes in favor, while Russia and China abstained.