Grundberg Calls for Unification of Yemeni Currency, Release of UN Personnel

Houthi leader says his group was able to mobilize over 400,000 people for military training programs (Reuters)
Houthi leader says his group was able to mobilize over 400,000 people for military training programs (Reuters)
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Grundberg Calls for Unification of Yemeni Currency, Release of UN Personnel

Houthi leader says his group was able to mobilize over 400,000 people for military training programs (Reuters)
Houthi leader says his group was able to mobilize over 400,000 people for military training programs (Reuters)

The UN's special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, stressed Thursday the importance of unifying the Yemeni currency and ending the Central Bank split, also referring to Saudi Arabia’s role in halting a dangerous cycle of economic escalation between the Yemeni government and the Houthis.

Grundberg’s address to the Security Council came while several countries denounced the Houthis for seizing the offices of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Sanaa this week. They demanded the release of all abducted Yemenis who work for foreign organizations, including UN agencies.

In his briefing to the Security Council, Grundberg said, “Last month, with the support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the parties were able to halt a dangerous cycle of escalation that was negatively impacting Yemen’s banking and transport sectors and threatened to ignite renewed military conflict.”

He then referred to the regional escalation, which is taking place in parallel to real and urgent challenges inside Yemen that need to be addressed.

“Addressing the decade-long conflict in Yemen continues to be at the center of my work,” the envoy said.

Grundberg also spoke about the Houthi concerted campaign against Yemeni employees of the UN, civil society, national and international NGOs.

He called on Houthis "to act responsibly and compassionately" towards Yemenis and "immediately and unconditionally release all UN, NGO, civil society, diplomatic mission and private sector employees as well as members of religious minorities, and refrain from further arbitrary detentions."

The envoy added, “In four days, on the 19th of August, we will commemorate World Humanitarian Day. Yet, in Yemen, we are facing a clampdown by Houthis on the humanitarian and civic space.”

Also, Grundberg underscored the importance of working toward the unification of the currency, a unified central bank, and ensuring the banking sector is free from political interference.

“My office has prepared options and offered a clear proposal and pathway to achieve these objectives, all of which have been based on the input of the parties themselves,” he said.

Western Condemnations

Meanwhile, several countries continued to denounce the Houthi seizure of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) headquarters in Sanaa.

In a message posted on social media platform X on Thursday, the UK minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Hamish Falconer, called on the Houthis to halt the harassment of workers from the UN and other organizations, and for the release of all abducted employees.
“We call on the Houthis to allow the UN and all NGOs to continue their critical work for the Yemeni people and to release all detained staff immediately,” he said.

On Wednesday, US State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel condemned the Houthis for the takeover of the UN office.
“The storming and takeover of the OHCHR headquarters in Sanaa by Houthi militants violates international norms. It further demonstrates that the Houthis have no respect for the most basic international practices,” he said in a statement.

“This is just one more step in an aggressive series of Houthi actions including detentions of UN, international organization, and diplomatic personnel working to help the Yemeni people,” he said. “These actions will further obstruct the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Yemenis who have endured crisis conditions for far too long.”

The United States said it continues to support a negotiated peace in Yemen under UN auspices and strongly supports the work of the OHCHR and other agencies and organizations bringing relief to the Yemeni people.

According to Patel, there can be no sustainable solution to Yemen’s conflict as long as the Houthis insist on attacking international ships and threatening their neighbors and the Yemeni people.

Houthi Leader Threatens

Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi vowed on Thursday to retaliate against the Israeli attacks on the port of Hodeidah.

He said 73 Houthis have been killed and 181 injured since the beginning of the group’s military operations against Israel in October 2023, including about six killed and 80 injured in the Israeli attacks on Hodeidah.

The Houthi leader admitted that American fighter jets conducted 10 airstrikes against his group this week alone. Eight of these strikes reportedly targeted the coastal province of Hodeidah on the Red Sea, with additional strikes in Hajjah province and Sanaa.

He then revealed that also this week, his group launched 15 ballistic and cruise missiles, along with drones against ships.

Al-Houthi said his group was able to mobilize over 400,000 people for military training programs.

He added that the response on the killing of Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh is certainly coming, with its own trajectory, preparations, tactics, and dedicated capabilities.



Syria Joins a Donor Conference for the First Time in a Crucial Phase for Its New Leaders

EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)
EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)
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Syria Joins a Donor Conference for the First Time in a Crucial Phase for Its New Leaders

EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)
EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)

International donors gathered on Monday in a show of support for Syria, hoping to encourage the new leaders of the conflict-ravaged country toward a peaceful political transition following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani attended the conference — the ninth of its kind — in a first for a top official from Damascus.

But the United States, one of Syria’s top donors, wasn’t expected to offer assistance as the Trump administration is reviewing all foreign aid. It contributed almost $1.2 billion to Syria and the region last year.

Ministers and representatives from Western partners, Syria’s regional neighbors, other Arab countries and UN agencies also attended the one-day meeting in Brussels, organized in haste by the European Union amid change sweeping the country.

Opening the meeting, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU was increasing its pledge to Syrians in the country and the region to almost 2.5 billion euros ($2.7 billion) for 2025 and 2026.

“We call on all of you who are here today to do the same, if possible, because at this critical time, the people of Syria need us more than ever,” von der Leyen said.

Syria's new leaders are trying to consolidate control over territory that was divided into de facto mini-states during nearly 14 years of civil war, and to rebuild the economy and infrastructure. The United Nations has estimated that it would cost at least $250 billion to rebuild Syria, while experts say that could reach at least $400 billion.

At the same time, Western governments are cutting back on aid spending, in part to use in defense budgets.

“We will give more, but we cannot fill the gap left by the US,” EU Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib told reporters. "We will need to share the burden.”

Security concerns are also making donors hesitate. Earlier this month, an ambush on a Syrian security patrol by gunmen loyal to Assad triggered clashes. Some factions allied with the new government launched sectarian revenge attacks — primarily targeting Assad’s Alawite minority sect — that monitoring groups say killed hundreds of civilians over several days.

The EU said that it will only support “a peaceful and inclusive transition, away from malign foreign interference, which guarantees the rights of all Syrians without distinction of any kind.”

The 27-nation bloc has begun to ease energy, transport and financial sector sanctions to encourage the new authorities, but many other Western sanctions remain in place. The EU can reintroduce sanctions if things don’t go to the liking of Western backers.

Syria's foreign minister said that lifting the measures is no longer just a government demand but "a humanitarian and moral necessity.”

"We cannot talk about economic recovery and humanitarian development in Syria while restrictions continue to prevent even the arrival of medical equipment and spare parts to repair damaged hospitals and essential service facilities,” he said.

Syria's economy, infrastructure and institutions are in tatters. As a failed state, it could become another haven for extremists.

Amy Pope, director-general of the International Organization for Migration, urged donors to seize this opportunity to encourage the interim government to move in the right direction.

“It’s critical that countries take advantage of the moment we’re in,” Pope told The Associated Press.

“Of course, we all want to see an inclusive Syria,” she said. “We want to make sure there’s accountability for human rights violations. But the answer is to engage more, not to engage less.”

Syrians have only a few hours of electricity each day. Water supplies are unreliable and often unsafe. Unemployment runs to 80% or 90%. Destruction is widespread.

Many government employees and experts needed to rebuild fled after the 2011 peaceful anti-regime protests were violently quelled by Assad, leading to the conflict.

The UN refugee agency said that last year around 7 million people were displaced in Syria. More than 4.7 million refugees are registered in neighboring countries, most in Türkiye, Lebanon and Jordan.

The German government said that it would pledge around 300 million euros ($326 million) to help deal with the fallout from Syria’s civil war. More than half will be used to help people in Syria, with other funding supporting Syrians and communities elsewhere.

Monday's conference was also focused on meeting Syria’s economic needs. Infrastructure, health and education must be scaled up. Jobs and cash for work programs are needed so that Syrians can start to make a living.