Reckless Houthi actions continue to undermine efforts to bring peace to the Yemeni people: UK statement at the UN Security Council
Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the UN Security Council meeting on Yemen.
Thank you, President, and let me start by thanking Special Envoy Grundberg and Director Wosornu for your briefings. And I am also grateful to Ms. Shaki for highlighting the connections between climate, peace and security in Yemen as well as the stark humanitarian situation. As you’ve said, and we’ve heard, Yemen faces stark environmental challenges on top of the ongoing conflict and addressing these issues now, and as part of any discussions for peace, will be critical to Yemen’s future sustainability.
We also share Director Wosornu’s, and Ms. Shaki’s, concerns about the humanitarian situation in Yemen, and in particular, the access constraints preventing women aid workers from delivering vital assistance. We reiterate our call for all parties to facilitate unhindered access for humanitarian workers and welcome OCHA’s proposals for adapted measures, as Ms Wosornu has just outlined.
The UK has provided over $1.2 billion since the crisis started. We gave $110 million in humanitarian funding last year and we expect to increase our contribution this year.
We also continue to support fully the ongoing efforts, of the Special Envoy, to progress a roadmap towards UN-led Yemeni-Yemeni dialogue. As we’ve said before, an inclusive political settlement is the only way to bring sustainable peace and long-term stability to Yemen and address the worsening humanitarian crisis.
President, we unequivocally condemn the Iranian strikes against Israel over the weekend, which have done nothing to advance prospects for peace in Gaza. The UK has long been clear about Iran’s unacceptable role in destabilising the region, including their role in supporting the Houthis in Yemen. We understand the Houthis contributed to this latest attack. Their reckless actions continue to risk seriously undermining efforts to bring peace to the Yemeni people.
The Houthis continue to risk further escalation with their ongoing attacks against shipping in the Red Sea. This Council has been clear in its adoption of UNSCR 2722 on 10 January that we condemn Houthi attacks. They threaten innocent lives, endanger aid delivery to Yemen and the region.
We also reaffirm our condemnation of the attack on a home in Rada last month by the Houthis. This attack led to a tragic loss of life and injury and we express our deepest condolences to the families of those killed and injured.
Furthermore, the decision to issue counterfeit currency in Yemen threatens to destabilise the banking sector and deepen division in the country’s already fragile economy.
Finally, President, we call on the Houthis to prioritise the interests of the Yemeni people, to engage with UN efforts to resolve economic fragmentation and to cease provocations in order to preserve space for an intra-Yemeni peace process. In short, we call on the Houthis to stop attacks and return to the peace talks.
Thank you, President.