A3+ Statement delivered by H.E. Mr. Amara S. M. Sowa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations, at Security Council meeting on Yemen

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3+, namely Algeria, Guyana, Mozambique and my own country Sierra Leone.

We would like to express our sympathies to the Government of Yemen and the families of those who lost their lives during the Hodeida flooding on 8 August 2024, and the large number of persons that have been displaced as a result of this.

We wish to extend our gratitude and thanks to the briefers, Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and OCHA Director of Financing and Partnerships, Lisa Doughten. Your analytical clarity and oversight have deepened our understanding of the current situation in Yemen.

We also welcome the participation of Yemen and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in this meeting.

At the outset, Members of the A3+ are gravely concerned that the Houthis have once again escalated their attacks on United Nations premises. The deliberate, unjustifiable and unacceptable seizure of the UN Human Rights Office on 3rd August 2024 by the Houthis is not only a brazen violation of International Law and the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and Associated Personnel, but also the Charter of the United Nations. Such actions undermine the integrity of international operations and represent a direct assault on the principles of neutrality and impartiality that govern the work of the United Nations.

Operations of the United Nations are conducted in the common interest of the international community and in line with the principles and purposes enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. The premises of the United Nations should never be a target of attacks, nor its employees. We add our voice to the Special Envoy and that of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mr. Volker Turk in asking the Houthis to leave the UN premises and to return all belongings of UN personnel immediately. The sanctity of UN facilities must be respected, and any form of aggression against its staff is unacceptable.

We are also gravely concerned that the scores of detained Staff of the UN and other international organizations have still not been released, and access has not been granted to their families.  The refusal to release these individuals and to allow them access to their families constitute a serious breach of international law. these actions not only undermine regional and UN efforts for peace but also exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation in Yemen. The continued detention of aid workers and UN staff is a setback to the progress made toward a peaceful resolution and a betrayal of the humanitarian principles that guide international interventions. 

After nearly a decade of conflict and humanitarian crisis, millions of Yemenis have been displaced, and are facing starvation. The increase in food consumption and food deprivation levels are worrying and it is our hope that the WFP can resume its food distribution soonest. We call on all parties to comply with international law, including international humanitarian law to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to the Yemeni people. The reality is that poverty has deepened. The people of Yemen cannot afford a renewed conflict.

Colleagues to this end, we would like to make four key points.

Firstly, we reiterate our strong support for UN and regional efforts towards a Yemeni owned and led political settlement and urge actors to prioritize diplomatic channels. There is an urgency in working towards re-establishing the truce that was in place prior to the recent escalation in the Israel-Gaza conflict. This will involve an integrated approach and a genuine compromise among the different actors through diplomatic efforts under the leadership of the United Nations, and other efforts by regional countries must remain at the forefront of this process.  It will also involve increased efforts to secure a ceasefire.

In this regard, we commend the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman for their unrelenting efforts towards the peaceful settlement of the Yemeni conflict. We must safeguard progress that has been made through diplomacy. Continued military confrontation can only fuel the conflict with the risk of increased civilian suffering.

The A3+ also commends the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen (OSESGY) and UN Women Yemen for their recent consultative meeting in Mukalla, which brought together 70 representatives from different parts of Yemeni society, including government officials, civil society leaders and political representatives, which aimed to develop a ‘Bottom-up vision for inclusive peace’, focused on key priorities such as economic and security measures, humanitarian needs and de-escalation strategies. A significant outcome was the unanimous agreement on the vital role of women in political and economic dialogues, highlighting the importance of their full participation in achieving sustainable peace.

Second, we call for an end to the ongoing violation and attacks on UN premises and for the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees. It is regrettable that following talks in Muscat on the release of all detainees, the Houthis have taken the path of undermining the progress achieved in Oman. Personnel of the United Nations are deployed to provide comprehensive support in facilitating the conduct and fulfilment of the mandate of the United Nations, and they are not a party to any conflict.

The continued attacks on UN premises and UN personnel are an attempt to extinguish the tiny amount of hope that is left in the Houthi controlled areas. This is also a strategy to finally put to rest any thought of dissent in their areas of operations. The international community should ensure the Houthis are denied opportunities to affirm themselves.

Third, we urge the Houthis to cease their maritime attacks in the Red Sea. The recent report of the Secretary-General has highlighted the disturbing increase in such incidents, which not only threaten regional stability but also diminish the prospects for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.  The success of these attacks has given the Houthis a broad flexibility to maneuver easily in the region and in Yemen, but it is also diminishing hopes for diplomatic efforts to be successful. This continued affront in the Red Sea has led to the suspension of a much-anticipated peace following almost two years of calm. The gains made so far have been reversed and everything is at a standstill.

Conversely, while we urge the Houthis to cease all maritime attacks, we urge countries with influence not to fan the flames of military standoff in the Red Sea, and therefore support efforts to bring peace in Yemen and support the economic prosperity of Yemenis.

In this connection, the members of the A3+ re-emphasize the urgency of a ceasefire in Gaza, and the swift implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 2735, as it remains key to the stability of the Middle East.

Fourth, we urge donor countries to support the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan. The current realities just described by Ms. Doughten are dire. The lack of funding for the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan is a source of concern and requires efforts to be scaled up especially with an imminent threat of a regional war. For millions of Yemenis, particularly children, their most pressing issues are their daily sustenance and the resumption of economic activities.

To conclude, the Members of the A3+ will remain steadfast in our efforts leading to a peaceful and stable Yemen. We are committed to working alongside the United Nations and regional partners to ensure the return of normalcy to the country following years of conflict and instability.  

I thank you!