Security Council Press Statement on Yemen
The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Gerard van Bohemen (New Zealand):
On 31 August 2016, the Security Council received a briefing on the situation in Yemen from the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed.
The members of the Security Council recalled previous resolutions 2014 (2011), 2051 (2012), 2140 (2014), 2201 (2015), 2204 (2015), 2216 (2015) and 2266 (2016) and presidential statements of 15 February 2013, 29 August 2014, 22 March 2015 and 25 April 2016.
The members of the Security Council expressed their continued support for and commitment to the work of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, in bringing the parties to negotiations with a view towards swiftly reaching a final and comprehensive agreement to end the conflict in Yemen, following on from previous Security Council resolutions and statements.
The members of the Security Council urged the parties to resume consultations immediately without preconditions and in good faith with the United Nations Special Envoy on the basis of his proposal for a comprehensive agreement covering both security and political issues. The members of the Security Council stressed to all parties that any new political arrangements should be the result of an agreement following negotiations under United Nations auspices, and not the result of unilateral actions by any side.
To support consultations of the Special Envoy and avoid further loss of life, the members of the Security Council urged all parties to recommit to and fully respect the terms and conditions of the Cessation of Hostilities entered into on 10 April, which will include a complete halt to ground and air military activities. The Council called on all sides to resume working through the De-escalation and Coordination Committee to facilitate the strengthening of the Cessation of Hostilities.
The members of the Security Council reiterated their strong concern about intensified terrorist attacks, such as that which took place in Aden on 29 August, including by Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula and Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (also known as Da’esh), and encouraged all Yemeni parties to avoid any security vacuums that can be exploited by terrorists or other violent groups. The Security Council stressed that a political solution to the crisis is essential to address, in a durable and comprehensive manner, the threat of terrorism in Yemen.
The members of Security Council noted the devastating humanitarian impact of the conflict, which has resulted in a large number of dead and wounded, on the Yemeni people and emphasized that the humanitarian situation in Yemen will continue to deteriorate in the absence of a peace agreement that leads to a durable solution to the conflict. The Security Council called upon all sides to comply with international humanitarian law and to take urgent measures to improve the humanitarian situation. The members of the Security Council further called on all parties to allow safe, rapid and unhindered access for humanitarian supplies to all affected governorates and to facilitate access for essential imports of food, fuel and medical supplies into the country and their distribution throughout.
The members of the Security Council reiterated their strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen.