Source The United Nations
Media www.rajawalisiber.com – The Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said, “While sporadic military incidents continue to occur, levels of hostilities are significantly lower than before the truce.”
Briefing the Security Council today (17 May) in New York, the Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said, “More than one year after its announcement, and seven months since its official expiration, the truce continues to deliver. Yemenis benefit from commercial flights to and from Sana’a Airport and fuel and other commercial ships entering via Hudaydah port.”
He also said, “The continuing reports of violence across frontlines, notably in Al Jawf, Ta’iz, Ma’rib and Sa’ada highlight the fragility of the current situation and underscore the need for a formal ceasefire.”
Grundberg continued, “I am equally worried about the deteriorating economic situation and restrictions on freedom of movement and its impact on economic activity and people’s livelihoods.”
According to him, “The inability of the Government of Yemen to export oil, which 2 generated more than half of total government revenues last year, is straining the government’s capacity to meet its obligations to the Yemeni people.”
Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) briefed the Council on behalf of Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.
She said, “In the meantime, Yemenis across the country are also hoping for other things: food on the table, a roof over their heads. The ability for their children to go to school or play outside without the fear of injury by landmines.”
Wosornu continued, “Five months into the year and despite the generosity of many donors, around 80 percent of the Yemen humanitarian appeal remains unfunded.”
She said that this shortfall is increasingly threatening ability of humanitarians to provide lifesaving and livelihoods assistance. “Certain elements of the Yemen humanitarian appeal are being hit particularly hard,” she said.
According to her, “Support for migrants and refugees, for example, has received very limited support so far in 2023, although the needs of these communities are severe.”
She urged donors “to do what they can” to fund the Yemen appeal. Wosornu also said that more funding is also needed for the UN-coordinated SAFER oil tanker operation.
She welcomed the pledging event hosted by the UK and Netherlands on 4 May, “at which an additional 8 million US dollars was raised.” “I hope further pledges are forthcoming to bridge the remaining funding gap and ensure the operation is fully funded,”she said.
According to her, the replacement vessel arrived in Djibouti on 7 May and the salvage vessel, Ndeavor, is expected in Djibouti around 22 May. The operation is expected to begin before the end of the month. She concluded, “This is good news.”
Yemeni Ambassador Abdullah al-Saadi told Council members, “we are seeing today that the Houthi militias, which have chosen to fan the flames of this conflict, continue to disregard the suffering of the Yemenis, and their hopes for peace, security, stability and freedom.”