Aden - New York: Europe and the Arabs
The United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said that there are concrete and decisive steps that the parties can take now to achieve long-term peace in the country, stressing the need “not to lose sight of the intrinsic value” of this goal in light of the uncertainty in the region. According to what was stated in the daily news bulletin of the United Nations
In his speech before the Security Council yesterday, Monday, from the city of Aden via video technology, Mr. Grundberg said that the ongoing challenges continue to impede progress towards a solution in Yemen. While he noted the decrease in the intensity of attacks on ships in the Red Sea and British and American strikes on targets in the country, he said that the Ansar Allah group’s announcement of its intention to expand the scope of attacks is “a worrying provocation in an already volatile situation.”
He reiterated his call for a ceasefire in Gaza and a reduction in escalation in the Red Sea and its environs. The Special Envoy said that the situation along the front lines had remained under control over the past month, but he expressed concern about continued military activity in Al Dhalea, Al Hudaydah, Lahj, Ma’rib, Saada, Shabwa and Taiz.
He said: “Let me be clear, further violence will not resolve this conflict. On the contrary, it will only exacerbate the suffering we see today, and risk losing the opportunity to reach a political settlement. I again urge the parties to exercise utmost restraint in "Her actions and words during this fragile time."
Mr. Grundberg assured the Council that a peaceful and just solution is still possible despite the challenges. He said that his contacts with the parties to make progress on the roadmap established by the United Nations are continuing, and that he continues to explore ways to stop escalation, build confidence, and prepare for a nationwide ceasefire and resume a comprehensive political process.
He said: "Yemenis demand equality as citizens before the law, and the opportunity to benefit from their country's true economic potential, effective services and good governance. These calls ultimately require reaching an agreement to end the war and begin a political process."
"Achievement for the better"
For his part, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths said that the Yemeni people deserve to see significant progress for the better after nearly ten years of harsh conflict and overwhelming difficulties, and the world also deserves to see that conflicts can be ended “on the basis of justice and popular desire.” "In peace."
He said that during the past three years since he took over as UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, there have been great moments of hope for Yemen, including the UN-brokered truce in 2022 that was “one of the rare bright moments we see in our world today.” However, he stressed that the country is not out of the crisis yet, and conditions could deteriorate quickly, as happened in the past.
He added: “Hunger – the threat that has characterized this crisis – continues to haunt the people of Yemen. Modest improvements in food security and malnutrition rates following the UN-brokered truce have almost disappeared. Levels of severe food deprivation remain alarmingly high.” "Across the country, it is expected to worsen further when the lean season begins in June."