Yemen ‘Facing Clamp Down by Ansar Allah on Humanitarian, Civic Space’, Special Envoy Warns Security Council, Calling for Release of Those Detained
Calling on the Houthis, formally known as Ansar Allah, for the immediate release of all detained humanitarian and diplomatic staff in Yemen, the United Nations’ top official in that country underscored today that the Security Council must continue supporting its political transition.
Hans Grundberg, the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, said the country is “facing a clamp down by Ansar Allah on the humanitarian and civic space”. Dozens of men and women, among which are 13 UN personnel, including one of his own staff members, are still being detained in unknown locations, he said, noting that these detentions are in addition to Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) staff who have been detained since 2021 and 2023 respectively.
On 29 July, Ansar Allah closed the OHCHR office in Sana’a and asked its international staff to leave, he said, adding that they stormed that Office on 3 August. Calling on the organization to release all humanitarian, diplomatic and private sector employees, as well as members of religious minorities, he said: “Let them be reunited with their families. Let them go back to their jobs serving Yemenis.”
“The Middle East is currently holding its breath,” he said, adding that what started in Israel and Gaza has drawn in several countries. Ansar Allah continues to attack ships in the Red Sea, and the United States and the United Kingdom have continued their strikes on military targets. While levels of violence along the front lines remain relatively contained compared to before the 2022 truce, there are military preparations and reinforcements accompanied by continuous threats of a return to war. Calling on the parties to implement their commitments, he said it is vital “to transform the understanding into something that improves the lives and livelihoods of all Yemenis”.
Last month, he said, he held a meeting in partnership with the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women), bringing together different segments of Yemeni to continue the work to develop a vision for inclusive peace, elevating the voice of women. “I remain determined to achieve the task entrusted to me by this Council: to support the resumption of an inclusive Yemeni-led political transition,” he said, calling on that organ to send consistent messaging on the importance of a political process and a ceasefire, as well as to continue to advocate for the release of UN personnel.
Also briefing the Council today was Lisa Doughten, Director, Financing and Partnerships Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, on behalf of Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Joyce Msuya. Outlining the humanitarian situation, she said that, over the past 10 days, heavy rainfall and flash flooding hit several governorates in Yemen, damaging homes, farms and public infrastructure. About 69,500 families have been directly affected, with many losing their homes and sources of livelihood. Some 98 people have been killed, and more than 600 others injured. In response, humanitarian partners have provided immediate life-saving assistance, delivered critical medical supplies to local hospitals and deployed dozens of mobile health teams to affected areas.
However, a lack of adequate funding continues to undermine efforts to address critical needs across Yemen, she cautioned, adding that — eight months into the year — the humanitarian response plan for 2024 is only 27 per cent funded, “forcing humanitarians to make difficult decisions about which vulnerable families and communities would receive support”. Preventing the spread of cholera is one area where additional funds are urgently needed. Although the UN-led multi-agency cholera response plan is currently 60 per cent funded, this was based on an initial estimate of 60,000 cholera cases between April and September. Regrettably, as of the beginning of August, the number of suspected cases across the country has swelled to more than 147,000.
On the deteriorating food security in Yemen, she said inadequate food consumption is now affecting 60 per cent of surveyed households nationwide. Rates of severe food deprivation in areas controlled by the Houthi de facto authorities have more than doubled compared to 2023 while also increasing sharply in Government-controlled areas. “The impacts of increasing food insecurity and malnutrition extend far beyond hunger,” she stated, noting that they expose children, especially girls, to increased rates of abuse and neglect. Today, an alarming 30 per cent of girls in Yemen are forced into marriage before the age of 18 as families struggle to provide for them.
The World Food Programme (WFP), she added, is currently planning a one-off food distribution to more than 1.6 million people in the 34 worst-affected districts. However, enhanced action will be needed to avert a further potential catastrophe. Full and urgent funding of the Humanitarian Response Plan for Yemen is a minimum requirement for these and other critical humanitarian needs. “The people of Yemen cannot afford the devastating toll of further conflict,” she stated, stressing: “Their ability to recover from the devastation of the conflict, address increasing humanitarian needs and take concrete steps towards a more promising and stable future all depend on locking in progress on peace.”
When the floor opened for discussion, many Council members reiterated the call for release of detainees. The representative of the United States said there are “credible reports” that the Houthis are mistreating the detainees, including her country’s diplomatic staff members, and that they have warned families of the detained against speaking out publicly. “So, the actual number of detainees may be significantly higher,” she said. Reaffirming support for Israel’s right to self-defence, she said the Council must not justify the actions of Houthis “because things are happening elsewhere in the world”. The Houthis are deliberately trying to “distract from their failed record” by focusing on other events in the region, she said.
She stressed that the Council must condemn the attacks in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and surrounding waterways which threaten navigational freedoms as well as regional peace. “Make no mistake, Iran has directly enabled these attacks,” she said, highlighting Council resolution 2216 (2015) which established an arms embargo. Calling on the 15-member organ to take steps to deny Houthis weapons and supplies, she added that it should heed the request made by Yemen’s representative for additional support in enforcing that resolution.
The detention of humanitarian and diplomatic staff, the United Kingdom’s delegate said, “demonstrate once again the willingness of Houthi leaders to inflict harm and suffering on the Yemeni people to advance their own ambitions”. Calling on them to immediately and unconditionally release the detainees, leave OHCHR premises and return assets they have seized, he expressed concern about their “reckless and escalatory attacks across the region in conjunction with other Iranian-linked groups”. Recent reports have shown Houthi links to Al Shabaab, he said, calling on the relevant UN Sanctions Committees to monitor this. Condemning the Houthi closure of OHCHR’s office in Sana’a, he said that it is critical for the protection of civilians and reporting of human rights abuses.
Other delegates joined their voices to strongly condemn the Houthis’ storming of OHCHR in Sana’a, calling on the movement to leave the premises and return all seized assets and belongings immediately. Among them was Japan’s representative who demanded that the Houthis release the 25 crew members of the Galaxy Leader cargo ship, who have been held for nearly nine months, without any further delay. Echoing that call, the representative of France said Houthi actions in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden “show scorn” for the resolutions adopted by the Council. Further, Iran must stop its support for destabilizing actions in the region. Reiterating her country’s commitment to “the security of its partners in the region”, she said France will continue its engagement in the context of European operation Aspides to guarantee maritime security and freedom of navigation.
The representative of Yemen also spoke to the Council today, asking members “to shoulder their responsibilities and to exercise yet more pressure onto the militias so that they ensure that the interests of the people prevail”. After 10 years of conflict initiated by the Houthi militia, leading to severe economic and humanitarian devastation, his country is “facing a dangerous and difficult stage”, he said. Despite efforts from regional and international actors like Saudi Arabia and Oman, the Houthis take the country “backwards, towards a war”, exacerbating the suffering of civilians and threatening regional stability.
Voicing regret over the continued attacks on the UN premises and the obstruction of the humanitarian work by the Houthi militia, he said: “The lack of measures and international pressure […]simply encourage these militias to continue their violations and abuses against the personnel of UN agencies.” He reiterated his Government’s call to the international organizations to relocate to the interim capital, Aden, to ensure the safety and effectiveness of humanitarian efforts.
Highlighting the devastating impacts of recent natural hazards, compounded by the economic deterioration, particularly the cessation of oil exports, and climate change, he said: “The humanitarian situation is bleak.” The harsh underfunding of the Humanitarian Response Plan threatens the closure of over 1,000 health centres. “This would leave over 500,000 women and 600,000 children without access to vaccines and health care,” he stressed, adding: “We will be unable to stop the spread of many epidemics.” The United Nations must consider Yemen’s humanitarian crisis as “a priority”, he urged.
Numerous delegates sounded alarm over restricted humanitarian access across Yemen and the lack of funding, with Malta’s delegate noting that 17.6 million people are suffering acute food insecurity, and 18 million people need humanitarian assistance. The representative of Sierra Leone, Council President for August, speaking also for Algeria, Guyana and Mozambique, highlighted the deepening poverty in Yemen, adding: “We urge donor countries to support the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan.” Denouncing the seizure of the UN human rights office and the detention of UN staff, he urged all actors to prioritize diplomatic channels.
The representative of the Russian Federation said the actions of Ansar Allah reflect regional frustration with the Israeli actions. “Normalization in the Middle East and in the Red Sea is not possible without de-escalation in Gaza,” he asserted, accusing the United States of pursuing a “pro-Israel stance” that prevents achievement of a ceasefire. “The inaction of the Security Council is only facilitating this conflagration,” he concluded. He also underscored the need to launch inclusive inter-Yemeni dialogue under the UN auspices, adding: “The end goal is to achieve long-term stabilization.” The Council must “wrap up the Yemeni dossier” as soon as possible, otherwise all the efforts undertaken since April 2023 will be reduced to naught, he warned.
China’s delegate also cautioned about a negative regional spillover effect of the “slow and difficult” process of achieving a ceasefire in Gaza. Drawing attention to the recent agreement between the Yemeni Government and the Houthis on financial and aviation issues, he urged the parties to remain “committed to a political solution, eliminate interference and meet each other halfway”. Calling on the Houthis to ensure the safety of navigation in the Red Sea, he demanded “the immediate and unconditional release of all UN personnel and the return of the related assets”. Underscoring the devastating humanitarian situation in Yemen, he pleaded for increased assistance from the international community.
In light of the attack carried out by the Houthis in Tel Aviv — and the prospects that similar attacks could be repeated — the representatives of Ecuador and Slovenia warned about the exacerbation of a new front between Israel and Yemen. This would only lead to more human suffering, they said, urging all actors to prioritize the Yemeni people and work to prevent a broader regional flare-up.
On that note, Switzerland’s delegate reminded States of their duty to avoid conflict and its far-reaching consequences, echoing the compelling plea for peace of 40-year-old Sana’a resident Elham Hassan: “Even when the fighting ends, things don’t go back to the way they were. You may still be alive and breathing, but you’re not really living anymore.”
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* The 9706th Meeting was closed.