Brussels-New York: Europe and the Arabs

Britain continues its efforts with regard to the Safer oil tanker stranded off the coast of Yemen and will use its Security Council presidency this month to raise awareness of the threat posed by the tanker. Initiating the process of transporting oil and providing the necessary funding remaining to do so is critical to preventing a major humanitarian and environmental catastrophe

According to what was stated in a tweet on Twitter by British government spokeswoman Rosie Diaz today, Tuesday

For his part, the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said that "important and positive" steps were taken more than a year ago to reduce violence in Yemen and improve the lives of Yemenis. I love what was stated in the United Nations news bulletin, of which we received a copy today, Tuesday.
 Monday, the UN Security Council held two sessions on the situation in Yemen. In the first session, the Council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2691 (2023), according to which it renewed the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Support of the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA) in Yemen for a period of one year.
In the second session, the Council heard briefings on the political and humanitarian situation in Yemen by the United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya, and the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, David Gresley. .
Speaking via video link, UN Envoy Hans Grundberg said that despite the end of the truce, Yemen and its people are "feeling the benefits of the longest period of relative calm since the conflict began," citing the recent UN report on Children and Armed Conflict which stated that the truce has reduced grave violations of human rights. children by 40 percent. He commended this improvement but emphasized that more was needed.
Grundberg said that this period of relative calm gave way to serious discussions with the Yemeni parties about moving forward on the path to ending the conflict.
But he noted that "if we want to end this war once and for all, these talks should achieve a serious breakthrough." He also praised the continued efforts of the regional parties to support these talks, including Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman, in addition to the role played by the Jordanian government in hosting negotiations on the release of more detainees.
fragile and difficult situation
Grundberg warned that the situation on the ground "remains fragile and difficult," noting that there have been some clashes on the front lines.
He said that these ongoing sparks of violence and the public threat to return to fighting on a large scale, increase fears and tensions, calling on all parties to stop "military and provocative actions and rhetoric that increases the possibility of further escalation."
The UN official added that there is another conflict in terms of controlling income-generating ports, trade routes, the banking sector, currency and natural resources, which cannot be separated from the military and political conflict.
Restricting the movement of women and girls
Grundberg stressed that freedom of movement in Yemen poses an enormous challenge as conflict-related road closures force thousands of Yemenis to take unsafe roads every day, raising the cost of transporting goods by 100 percent.
He also pointed out that restrictions on the freedom of movement of women and girls became greater during the conflict, adding that, during the past year, the requirement for women and girls to travel accompanied by a male relative, especially in areas controlled by Ansar Allah, has expanded remarkably.
essential elements to end the conflict
The United Nations Special Envoy for Yemen identified three basic elements for ending the conflict and achieving a lasting and just peace, saying that the first of these points is that "the parties immediately stop military provocations and prepare for and agree to a permanent ceasefire that includes all parts of the country."
The second element called for by Grundberg is for the parties to work to reduce economic escalation and to meet short- and long-term economic needs.
"Third, the parties must make progress on agreeing to pave the way for the resumption of a Yemeni political process under the auspices of the United Nations," the UN official added.
He emphasized that Yemenis have a rich history of dialogue, innovation and compromise at the national and local levels.
'Risky reality'
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya, briefed members of the Security Council via video link, beginning with an assertion that humanitarian needs in Yemen remain significant for the foreseeable future.
She stated that humanitarian organizations are seeking this year to reach 17.3 million people out of 21.6 million who need assistance, noting that migrants, refugees and asylum seekers are among the most vulnerable groups among them, and that their numbers are increasing.
She cited the International Organization for Migration figures, according to which the number of migrants who arrived in Yemen in the first half of 2023 amounted to 77 thousand people, adding that, according to this rate, the number of arrivals is expected to double compared to the previous year.
The UN official said that it is estimated that up to 300,000 migrants, asylum seekers and refugees will need humanitarian assistance this year.
Msoya spoke about the displaced in Yemen, saying that they "face a reality fraught with dangers."
The Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs explained that one of the main drivers of the huge increase in humanitarian needs in Yemen is the deteriorating economic situation, noting that achieving economic stability can reduce the number of people in need.
The need for more funding
Msoya called for the need to allow the movement of goods between all parts of the country, without hindrance, and to do more in order to provide sources of income, improve people's purchasing power and ensure the provision of basic services.
The UN official also stated that the United Nations continues to communicate with the relevant authorities in order to expand the operational space so that people in Yemen can better receive the assistance they urgently need.
"Once again, I call on the parties to fulfill their obligations in order to facilitate the rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief," she added.
Msoya warned that the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan has only been funded by 29 percent so far, warning of the dire consequences of this, which may lead to forcing UN agencies to reduce some of their activities.
She said that the malnutrition treatment activities provided by The World Food Program covers only 40 percent of what is required, and "the absence of new contributions by September means that the program will be forced to cut humanitarian aid to about five million people."
Msuya also indicated that the security of United Nations workers remains a matter of concern, calling for the release of detained United Nations workers in Yemen and protection for aid workers.
Transfer of oil from "Safer"
In turn, the United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, David Gresley, spoke - via video - about the situation of the dilapidated oil tanker "Safer" anchored off the Yemeni coast.
Gresley said that since the arrival of the rescue ship "Endeavour" to the site of the tanker "Safir" on May 30, the "Smit" company contracted by the United Nations Development Program has done everything to secure the dilapidated tanker and prepare it in preparation for its unloading of millions of barrels of oil.
He pointed out that the "Smit" company informed the United Nations Development Program that the process of transporting oil could begin, and that the level of risk remains within the permissible range.
"The planned oil transfer still carries residual risks," Gresley said. "The United Nations and its partners have formed an active disaster management team based in the port of Hodeidah, and have gathered the necessary expertise and equipment to move in the event of any accident."