SC/11944

Security Council Press Statement on Situation on Yemen

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Ramlan Bin Ibrahim (Malaysia):

The members of the Security Council recognized and welcomed the extraordinary efforts of the United Nations, in particular the Secretary-General and Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, to convene the consultations for Yemen in Geneva and expressed their continued support for the efforts of the Special Envoy.  The members of the Security Council positively took note of the Special Envoy’s briefing to the Security Council on the principles to advance the United Nations-brokered consultations.  The members of the Security Council strongly encouraged the parties to further discuss and consider these proposals in their engagement with the United Nations and the Special Envoy.

The members of the Security Council recalled Security Council resolutions 2014 (2011), 2051 (2012), 2140 (2014), 2201 (2015) and 2216 (2015), emphasizing the need for a peaceful, orderly, inclusive and Yemeni-led transition process.  The members of the Security Council reiterated their demand for the full implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions, and reiterated their call from resolution 2216 (2015) on all Yemeni parties to resume and accelerate United Nations-brokered inclusive political consultations.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their call on Yemeni parties to attend future talks and engage without preconditions and in good faith, including by resolving their differences through dialogue and consultations, rejecting acts of violence to achieve political goals, and refraining from provocation and all unilateral actions to undermine the political transition.  The members of the Security Council strongly condemned all violence, attempts or threats to use violence to intimidate those participating in United Nations-brokered consultations and emphasized that such action is unacceptable.  The members of the Security Council emphasized that the United Nations-brokered inclusive political dialogue must be a Yemeni-led process, with the intention of brokering a consensus-based political solution to Yemen’s crisis in accordance with the Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative and its Implementation Mechanism, the outcomes of the comprehensive National Dialogue Conference and relevant Security Council resolutions.

The members of the Security Council expressed deep concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Yemen, including the risk of famine.  They welcomed the United Nations revised humanitarian appeal which requested $1.6 billion, but which was currently only around 10 per cent funded.  They, therefore, encouraged the international community to contribute to the appeal.

The members of the Security Council recalled their request to the Secretary-General to intensify his efforts in order to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to all areas in need.  Recognizing the further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Yemen, the members of the Security Council endorsed the United Nations Secretary-General’s call for a further humanitarian pause in order to allow life-saving assistance to reach the Yemeni people urgently.  They also stressed the urgent need for ongoing commercial supplies to enter Yemen as a humanitarian imperative because of the heavy dependence of Yemen and its people on imported food and fuel.

The members of the Security Council urged all parties to facilitate the urgent delivery of humanitarian assistance to all parts of Yemen, as well as rapid, safe and unhindered access for humanitarian actors to reach people in need of humanitarian assistance, including medical assistance.  The members of the Security Council called upon all sides to comply with international humanitarian law, including taking all feasible precautions to minimize harm to civilians and civilian objects, and to urgently work with the United Nations and humanitarian aid organizations to get assistance to those in need.

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen, and its commitment to stand by the people of Yemen.

For information media. Not an official record.