Hans Grundberg, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, warned on Wednesday from the alarming escalation in Yemen that would have devastating humanitarian consequences for the Yemeni people.
In a briefing to the Security Council on the situation in the Middle East, Grundberg said a ceasefire in Gaza signals hope that a return to the peace process could materialize between the Yemeni government and Houthis.
The envoy’s briefing came after his talks with Yemeni, regional and international stakeholders across the region, during visits to Muscat, Sanaa, Tehran, and Riyadh to intensify engagements for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
Grundberg has lately kicked off efforts to secure the release of all arbitrarily detained personnel from the United Nations, national and international organizations, diplomatic missions, and the private sector.
In his briefing, the envoy expressed concern over reports of a new wave of arbitrary detentions, which further exacerbates the suffering of families and undermines trust.
Grundberg mentioned the Houthi attacks on the ships in the Red Sea and said they hindered the prospects of peace.
He added that a ceasefire in Gaza signals hope that an opportunity to de-escalate could materialize.
The envoy said the escalating cycle of strikes and counterstrikes has hindered the prospects of peace and destabilized Yemen's economy, adding that the relative stability and improved security conditions for civilians that have existed since the 2022 truce could be lost.
In contrast to Grundberg's hopes for a revival of the peace process, many Yemenis fear the Houthis would ignite a new war against the Yemeni government, exploiting the popular sympathy with Palestine that has enabled the group to recruit tens of thousands over the past year.
In this regard, Grundberg said, “I am concerned that parties may reassess their options for peace and make miscalculations based on flawed assumptions.”
Escalation and Detainees
In his briefing, the envoy mentioned the damage caused by the Houthi attacks and the Israeli and Western strikes in Yemen.
“Recent Israeli airstrikes have damaged critical civilian infrastructure, including the port of Hodeidah and Sanaa International Airport,” he said, adding that the damage to the port and tugboats impacts the ability to unload humanitarian aid.
Grundberg said during his meetings in Sanaa, he again urged Houthis to immediately and unconditionally release all arbitrarily detained personnel from the United Nations, national and international organizations, diplomatic missions, and the private sector.
He further called on the Houthis to release the Galaxy Leader vessel and its 25-member crew, which have been unlawfully detained for over a year now.
He urged all parties to urgently take concrete steps towards achieving a nationwide ceasefire agreement in Yemen.
Elsewhere, Grundberg spoke about his office’s engagement in extensive dialogues with Yemeni parties at the technical level on economic and military issues.
“In our discussions, we explored how collaboration between the parties could unlock critical peace dividends. These include the unification of the central bank, the resumption of fossil fuel exports, and the full payment of public sector salaries,” he said.
Yemeni, US Statements
During Grundberg’s briefing, the representative of the United States, Dorothy Shea, said, “The time has come to respond to the growing global threats by holding Iran to account for enabling the Houthis long-range missile attacks on international shipping and Israel.”
She said the Houthis have expanded their campaign of detaining innocent Yemenis, targeting more former embassy staff simply trying to do their jobs.
She stressed the need to deprive the Houthis of illicit revenues that sustain their attacks and recognize the growing relationship between the Houthis and other terrorist groups like al-Shabaab.
Meanwhile, Abdullah Ali Fadhel Al-Saadi, Permanent Representative of Yemen to the United Nations, addresses the Security Council meeting on the situation in his country.
“The humanitarian and economic situation in Yemen is intolerable,” he said, adding that the government is eager to engage with all efforts to reach a political settlement.
Al-Saadi also called on the Security Council to assume its responsibilities and implement its decisions that end the Houthi coup based on agreed international references.
