A3+ statement delivered by His Excellency Michael Kanu, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the UN at the Security Council briefing on the situation in the Middle East (Yemen)
Mr. President,
1. I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3 Plus, namely Algeria, Guyana, Mozambique and my own country Sierra Leone.
2. The A3 Plus thanks Special Envoy Mr. Hans Grundberg and OCHA’s Acting Emergency Relief Coordinator Ms. Joyce Msuya, for their comprehensive updates and valuable insights on the security and humanitarian situations in Yemen.
3. We also welcome the participation of the representative of Yemen to this meeting.
Mr. President,
4. At the outset the A3 Plus welcomes the report of the agreement between the Government of Yemen and the Houthis on several measures to de-escalate tensions in relation to the banking sector and Yemenia Airways. This is indeed a welcome development and a step in the right direction in the path to genuine and lasting peace in Yemen.
5. However, despite this most welcome development, the A3 Plus expresses its deep concern at the provocative actions, ongoing military operations and air strikes including against multiple locations in Yemen, particularly in the province of Hodeidah.
6. We are extremely alarmed by the security situation in the Red Sea, with several attacks by the Houthis on shipping vessels having been recorded in June and reaching unprecedented levels since December. In this regard, we call on the Houthis to immediately cease all attacks which undermine the navigational rights and freedoms and as well as regional peace and security.
7. We continue to call on the Houthis to respect and implement all resolutions of the Security Council, including resolutions 2216 that demands, inter alia, that the Houthis “refrain from any provocation or threats to neighbouring States….”.
8. We call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint to avoid further escalation. The use of force will only exacerbate the situation and risk undermining the efforts of the Special Envoy for Yemen to relaunch the political process.
9. In this regard a prompt response and diligent action are needed to address the wider conflicts in the region, with the urgency of a ceasefire in Gaza, which cannot be overstated, as it remains key to the stability of the Middle East.
Mr. President,
10. The ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Yemen, now in its tenth year, demand our urgent and unwavering attention. The severe hardships inflicted on the civilian population make Yemen one of the world's most dire humanitarian crises.
11. More than 18 million people need aid, with 17 million facing severe food shortages. Half of the population lack access to drinking water, leading to cholera outbreaks and a severe malnutrition crisis where nearly half of all children under five suffer from moderate stunting.
12. We acknowledge the positive impact of the WFP’s one-off food distribution in eight districts in Hajjah and Al Hodeidah during May, which temporarily reduced severe food deprivation and reliance on severe food-coping strategies.
13. The crisis in Yemen requires a significant scaling up of humanitarian efforts. We urge UN agencies, donor
countries, and international organizations to fully fund and mobilize resources for the 2024 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan. Current international aid falls dismally short of addressing the immense suffering of the Yemeni people.
14. The combined effects of conflict, economic instability, and climate change-induced droughts and floods continue to devastate Yemen's agricultural infrastructure and livelihoods, worsening the critical food and water crisis.
15. The A3 Plus remains deeply concerned about the rights of women and girls, especially in Houthi-controlled areas, and calls for the lifting of restrictions on their freedom of movement and access to education and healthcare.
Mr. President,
16. The A3 Plus strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of UN staff members and aid workers by the Houthis. These actions are flagrant violations of international law and must be unequivocally condemned.
17. We demand the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees and urge the Houthis to ensure the safety and security of humanitarian and United Nations personnel.
18. We extend our gratitude to Oman for hosting the ninth meeting of the Supervisory Committee on the
Implementation of the Detainees' Agreement and call on all parties to cooperate with the UN Special Envoy for Yemen to finalize the release plan for all conflict-related detainees as per the Stockholm agreement following the “all for all” principle.
19. The A3 Plus acknowledges Saudi Arabia's vital financial and political support for Yemen. However, the scale of the crisis demands a coordinated international response.
20. We reaffirm our support for the Yemeni-led and owned peace process based on agreed references for a political settlement. We fully support UN efforts, as well as regional and international initiatives towards a political resolution.
21. In conclusion, we urge the international community to intensify efforts to secure a ceasefire in Yemen. We also demand that the parties guarantee unhindered humanitarian access to aid workers and uphold human rights and international humanitarian law. Diplomatic efforts must be intensified to bring all parties to the negotiating table in search of a peaceful solution. The people of Yemen need peace and cannot afford further delays.
I thank you.
