S/2021/372 Security Council

I have the honour to enclose herewith a copy of the briefings provided by Mr. Martin Griffiths, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, and Mr. Mark Lowcock, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, as well as the statements delivered by the representatives of China, Estonia, France, India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico, the Niger, Norway, the Russian Federation, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America and Viet Nam, in connection with the video-teleconference on “The situation in the Middle East (Yemen)” convened on Thursday, 15 April 2021. A statement was also delivered by the representative of Yemen. In accordance with the procedure set out in the letter (S/2020/372) dated 7 May 2020 by the President of the Security Council addressed to Permanent Representatives of the members of the Security Council, which was agreed in the light of the extraordinary circumstances caused by the coronavirus disease pandemic. These briefings and statements will be issued as an official document of the Security Council.

Allow me to start by extending my warmest wishes to the people of Yemen and to Muslims around the world for the Holy Month of Ramadan. Ramadan kareem. For many Yemenis, the conflict has changed the way they see their lives and their futures. In many areas of the country, a generation of children has suffered sporadic or no schooling. Employment is too often partial or non-existent. The institutions of the State, essential for the delivery of basic services, have suffered years of attrition. The problems in getting fuel imported drive up prices of basic commodities. Electricity in some parts of Yemen is a daily struggle. And, as we will hear from Mark Lowcock, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has unleashed itself again on the people of Yemen. Six years gone and, as bad as anything else, no sense as to when this tragedy might end. Ending this war is the simple and heartfelt aspiration of any and every Yemeni polled, consulted or otherwise included in the national conversation about the war. It is very likely that a similar massive popular consensus in favour of peace exists in all conflicts. The people are always the champions of peace. And in this Yemen is no different from other countries burdened by conflict. But, in two other ways, Yemen is indeed different. The first is that the international community, as represented by the Security Council, is united. I am grateful to the Council for keeping Yemen high on its agenda and for always delivering a central, clear and consistent message: that the only way out of the conflict is a negotiated political solution. Generally, it is also true that there is a convergence of diplomatic interests in favour of an end to the war and its successful political resolution. Since we last met (see S/2021/266), I have visited Muscat, Amman, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Berlin. In all these capitals I have discussed in detail our current efforts to end the war in Yemen. And in all cases I have come across at a minimum a consensus in support, and as often an active role in support for, the four points on which we are seeking agreement between the parties. So the Security Council’s unity is reinforced by diplomatic unanimity and by specific actions by key Member states. They know who they are, and I thank them deeply. And in one last, and perhaps most important, regard there is reason for hope: the way to end the war is known and its principal elements are frequently discussed with the parties. We have what my counterpart Tim Lenderking calls “a fair plan” on the table. It is a plan that favours the humanitarian, knowing that this is what the people need. It is a plan that learns from experience of previous agreements. Thus, no partial ceasefires, only a nationwide ceasefire; no agreement without adequate preparation, for we are ready to put into immediate effect the decisions reached; a specific time agreed for the launch of that crucial political process. All we need now is for the parties to agree to this deal. That is all. The urgency of progress towards a peaceful settlement makes the continued violence on the ground all the more concerning. Ma’rib remains the major centre of gravity for the conflict. The fighting in the area is showing dangerous signs of escalating once again. Internally displaced people, along with local communities, have been in the line of fire. I am also alarmed by reports of multiple drone and ballistic missile attacks carried out by Ansar Allah against Saudi territory during the past week, including against civilian facilities. In Al-Hudaydah, the United Nations Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA) has been undertaking intensive discussions with the parties on the resumption of the activities under the umbrella of the Redeployment Coordination Committee and to rebalance UNMHA’s presence so as to be equally accessible to both parties. I hope these discussions are going in the right direction. This will be a considerable boost for the efforts to maintain calm in Al-Hudaydah and implement the Agreement reached in Stockholm. In Taiz, fighting has increased and tensions continue to build. The city’s civilian population continues to suffer the worst of the conflict and its impact on basic services and the freedom of movement. Like many areas of the country, Taiz has also been hit by an alarming resurgence of COVID-19 cases. Key roads in Taiz have been closed for several years, inflicting terrible social and economic consequences on the people. What I have described provides only a small glimpse of the effects of the war. Listening to Yemeni women gives us a deeper insight into the often-untold stories of this conflict. My Office has just completed a second digital consultation with Yemeni women from several governorates. They highlighted the erosion of the social fabric, the political marginalization and the severest humanitarian impacts of this war, the worst of which has often been on women and girls. The terrible effects run much deeper than I can ever capture in one briefing. But let me provide encouragement by saying something about the meaning of the deal for the Yemeni people and about how it will immediately contribute to the alleviation of their suffering. And here I may be forgiven for some hope. First, the guns will fall silent and the roads long blocked by front lines will open for the passage of goods, humanitarian first, for the free movement of people, for children to go to schools unhindered and for workers to return to their places of work across the lines. Secondly, impediments to the entry of ships into Al-Hudaydah will be lifted, allowing those ships carrying fuel and other crucial commodities to berth and discharge their cargo. Revenues from those ships will go into the Central Bank of Yemen in Al-Hudaydah and be put towards civil service salaries. Thirdly, Sana’a airport will see flights to international and national destinations, students will come home and the sick will travel easily for medical treatment. Fourthly — and this is really a hope — the parties might agree to release those still jailed by the war so that families at long last are reunited. I am deeply alarmed by the situation of detained Yemeni journalists, especially the 15 detained in Sana’a since 2015, who are facing capital punishment. I welcome the recent statements from the parties that they are ready to engage in a full-fledged release of detainees. I urge them to follow through on their commitments to bring relief to thousands of families waiting for their loved ones. These events and arrangements will allow for a normalization of life, which has all too often seemed like a cruel hope for the people of Yemen. Let us together call upon the parties not to disappoint and to instead deliver Yemen from its tragic plight.

The situation in Yemen — already the world’s largest humanitarian crisis — is quickly getting even worse. In recent weeks, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has come roaring back. A devastating new wave of infections has more than doubled the number of confirmed cases in just six weeks. Many more people are getting sick, including doctors, nurses and aid workers, although reporting mechanisms capture only a small share of cases. Hospitals and health facilities are increasingly turning people away because they have no more room or because they lack supplies. Aid agencies are doing everything we can to help, including more surveillance, public outreach, testing and critical supplies such as fuel and medicines. We are also working with the Government on vaccines. The first shipment from the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility arrived in Aden two weeks ago — about 360,000 doses, which the Government is dispatching now with support from UNICEF and the World Health Organization. Another 1.6 million doses are expected to follow in the coming months. But right now the virus is moving much faster than we can keep up. Vaccines will not be enough to suppress the second wave. We urgently need more resources to scale up treatment, monitoring and other activities that will mitigate the impact of the pandemic. This second wave is coming at a time when large-scale famine is still bearing down on the country. Tens of thousands of people are already starving to death, with another 5 million just one step behind them. To stop this unfolding catastrophe, we urgently need action on five points: the protection of civilians, humanitarian access, funding, support for the economy, and progress towards peace. Let us start with the protection of civilians, which is a requirement under international humanitarian law. March was the deadliest month for civilians so far this year. More than 200 civilians were killed or injured as a result of hostilities. That is seven civilian casualties every day. Nearly 350 private homes were also damaged or destroyed, and 10 camps hosting displaced people were impacted. About a quarter of civilian casualties occurred in and around Ma’rib, where Ansar Allah forces have continued to press a military offensive that has so far displaced nearly 20,000 people. Many of the displaced had already fled the war at least once before. The offensive in Ma’rib is a severe threat to millions of people, including more than 1 million internally displaced persons who had sought safety in what was one of Yemen’s last oases of stability. Hostilities in Ma’rib have also set off escalations elsewhere, notably in Taiz and Al-Hudaydah, with heavy civilian casualties. All parties must take constant care to spare civilians and civilian objects throughout military operations. If the fighting continues, aid agencies expect tens of thousands more people to flee. That will be extremely dangerous as COVID-19 tears through the country. It will also put more pressure on aid agencies, which are already struggling to avert famine and meet other needs with insufficient resources. My next point is on humanitarian access, which is equally a requirement of international humanitarian law. Humanitarian agencies are quickly expanding their presence in Ma’rib to help people affected by the recent escalation there. Regular United Nations flights to Ma’rib have also been approved and will soon start. The Government and the coalition are working with us to facilitate this. The Government also recently released humanitarian assets that had been stuck in customs in Aden, which is a welcome development. However, bureaucratic impediments to humanitarian action remain a severe challenge in Yemen. On the west coast, local authorities in Government-held areas recently introduced regulations requiring movement permits and other paperwork for aid agencies. These regulations were issued independently without Government approval and brought aid delivery in the area to a near stand-still. The regulations have now been suspended for Ramadan, which is a good start. We hope to see them reversed altogether. The Government has also been supporting us on this. In the north, we continue to engage Ansar Allah at all levels to accelerate the improvements we saw last year on key issues like biometric registration, assessments and project approvals. Those improvements have mostly held, but further progress has stalled. This remains a major priority for agencies and donors. Regarding the FSO SAFER oil tanker, a deal might be in sight to resolve the impasse on logistics and practical arrangements to implement the agreed mission plan. The United Nations has been as flexible as possible in these discussions because we are eager to get started. If Ansar Allah leadership agrees to move forward, which recent statements would indicate they do, the United Nations assessment team could arrive by early July. My third point is on funding for the aid operation. More money for the United Nations response plan is the fastest, most efficient way to save millions of lives. Right now, agencies are helping about 9 million people every month, down from nearly 14 million a year ago as a result of funding cuts. On 1 March, the world promised $1.7 billion for humanitarian action in Yemen this year. That is less than half of what we need. So far, about half of those pledges have been paid. Today the United Nations response plan is only about 22 per cent funded. Without more funding, millions of Yemenis will be staring down a death sentence this year. I call on donors to disburse outstanding pledges right away and to increase their support. Sustained assistance will be essential throughout the year if we are to avert famine, ramp up the COVID-19 response and address other severe needs. The fourth issue is on Yemen’s economic collapse, which is a major driver of famine risk. As I have said in the past, there are two immediate steps that can help stem this collapse right now. The first is to strengthen the currency. The rial is still trading near record lows, which means millions more people cannot afford food or other essentials, nearly all of which must be imported. Foreign-exchange injections through the Central Bank stabilized the rial in the past. Those injections should be renewed. The Government is eager to work with Yemen’s partners to make this a success. The second is to ensure adequate quantities of commercial imports keep entering all ports. Last month, I stressed my concern that commercial fuel imports through Al-Hudaydah had dropped to zero. This drop was contributing to severe fuel shortages, mainly in the north. Fuel is an absolutely essential commodity. It is needed to pump clean water, run sanitation systems, keep health facilities running and drive sick people to hospital. With COVID-19 again ravaging the country, a reliable fuel supply is more important than ever. Several weeks ago, the Government allowed four commercial fuel ships to berth in Al-Hudaydah, carrying 75,000 metric tons of fuel, which is equivalent to about two weeks’ worth of fuel imports. These were the first fuel ships to enter the port since January. And on Tuesday, the Government also announced it will allow three additional ships to proceed to Al-Hudaydah, carrying another 90,000 metric tons of fuel. These are welcome steps that will relieve some of the most immediate shortages. But the basic problem remains, which is a political dispute between the parties on how to manage import revenue. Until that dispute is resolved, Yemenis will be stuck in a cycle of fuel shortages that drive up the prices of food, water, transportation and everything else, while simultaneously cutting into basic services. Yemenis cannot cope with that cycle, especially now as famine and COVID-19 are bearing down on the country. I call on the parties to find a workable, lasting solution that will ensure a reliable, affordable fuel supply across the country. My final point is on progress towards peace. The war is the central driving force behind the misery we see today. I strongly support Martin Griffiths’ efforts to mediate a nationwide ceasefire, not just in Ma’rib but across the country, and to resume the political process. The only way to end the crisis in Yemen is to end the war.

I thank Special Envoy Martin Griffiths and Under-Secretary-General Mark Lowcock for their briefings. China appreciates the unremitting efforts of the United Nations in advancing the peace process in Yemen and carrying out humanitarian relief operations. Recently, Saudi Arabia put forward a peace initiative on the Yemeni issue. Oman has stepped up efforts to promote peace talks. The meeting of high officials in the P5+4 format was recently held in Berlin. The momentum for a political solution to the Yemeni issue has been strengthened. At the same time, we have noticed that the military clashes in Ma’rib are still escalating. Saudi civilians and civilian infrastructure are still being attacked. The humanitarian crisis in Yemen continues. The positive momentum so far has not yet led to a meaningful political process to fundamentally improve the situation on the ground or substantially alleviate the plight of the Yemeni people. A resolution of the Yemeni issue must rely on the political and diplomatic means. Positive developments in resolving hard issues such as Libya and the Sudan in recent years have shown that, with the strong will from all parties, the mediation by the United Nations and support from the international community, we can find a solution that takes into account the concerns of all parties, no matter how complex or difficult an issue might be. China welcomes Saudi Arabia’s new initiative and appreciates the measures taken by Saudi Arabia to ease the situation in Yemen. We hope relevant parties will respond positively and initiate dialogue and negotiations on the specific content of the initiative at an early date. China supports the voice of the Security Council in this regard to support diplomatic efforts. To solve the Yemeni issue, countries in the region must play a role. China appreciates the efforts of Oman and other countries in the region to promote peace talks. We hope that countries that have influence on parties to the conflict in Yemen will continue to play an important role. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi last month proposed a five-point initiative to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East, which supports a political settlement in Yemen and other hotspot issues with countries and people in the region playing a central role. China calls on countries of the region to strengthen dialogue and continuously improve the regional security environment,so as to create favourable conditions for the restoration of peace in Yemen. To solve the Yemeni issue, priority must be given to humanitarian needs. The international community must increase humanitarian assistance to Yemen, and donors must pay their pledges as soon as possible. All parties to the conflict must ensure safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to ensure that humanitarian supplies smoothly arrive in the hands of those in need. They should also ensure access to food, oil and other imported commodities. China notes that the Yemeni Government has approved entry for four oil tankers into the port of al-Hudaydah and hopes that can alleviate the local energy shortage. It is pressing to solve the FSO SAFER oil tanker issue. We call on the Houthis to maintain communication with the United Nations Office for Project Services, confirm the relevant logistical arrangements within the prescribed time frame and assist the technical team to board the ship for inspections and repairs as soon as possible, so as to avoid economic, humanitarian and marine environmental disasters. Over the years, China has provided a large amount of food assistance to Yemen and signed agreements on economic and technical cooperation with the Yemeni Government. We will continue to provide rice and medical supplies to Yemen as part of our contribution to alleviating the suffering of the Yemeni people.

I thank Special Envoy Griffiths and Under-Secretary-General Lowcock for their briefings. Estonia shares the deep concern about the continuing military escalation in Yemen, as it undermines the United Nations-led efforts to find a political settlement and aggravates the humanitarian crisis. We call upon all parties to immediately de- escalate and put an end to the hostilities, including the Houthis’ assault on Ma’rib and the cross-border attacks on the territory of Saudi Arabia. We also urge all parties to refrain from indiscriminate attacks against civilian objects, as they are a violation to international humanitarian law. Due to the fighting, the need for humanitarian assistance is rapidly increasing in several areas, as there are thousands of newly displaced families, especially in the Ma’rib governorate. Five million people across the country are already on the verge of famine, and there is a sharp increase in the number of coronavirus disease cases, while only half of the country’s health facilities are functioning. In this context, we welcome the recent decision of the Yemeni Government to approve the entry of four fuel ships into the port of Al-Hudaydah, as well as the decision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to grant $422 million worth of fuel to the Government of Yemen. However, in order to improve the severe humanitarian situation, additional steps are needed, including a sustainable solution for removing obstacles from the import of fuel and commercial items. We also call on all parties to protect civilians, particularly those in the most vulnerable situations, including internally displaced people, women and girls. We are concerned about the reports of systematic repression of journalists, sexual violence and the recruitment and use of children in armed conflict. The parties must cease these violations immediately, and perpetrators must be held to account. We welcome the tireless diplomatic efforts made to end the war, including those by Special Envoy Griffiths, United States Special Envoy Lenderking, the Sultanate of Oman and the P5+4 group, who met at the beginning of this week. We also welcome the recent announcement by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on ways to end the crisis. We encourage all parties to engage with the Special Envoy and agree on a ceasefire immediately in order to start an inclusive political process, with the participation of women and youth.

I would like to thank Mr. Griffiths and Mr. Lowcock for their briefings and to reiterate to them France’s full support. It is high time for the Houthis to make peace in Yemen. They must immediately put an end to their offensive against Ma’rib, which is home to millions of civilians. The attacks on Saudi Arabia must also stop. There is an opportunity to put an end to six years of war through diplomacy. We welcome the diplomatic efforts of the United States and Oman and the announcement by Saudi Arabia in that regard on 22 March. The Yemeni parties, especially the Houthis, need to seize this opportunity. They must undertake constructive discussions with the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy in good faith and without any further delay. The elements for a peace plan are well known. It is more than time:to conclude without delay and without preconditions a ceasefire agreement throughout Yemeni territory; to open the ports and airports to allow humanitarian and commercial supplies in; and to start credible political negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations. There is only a political solution to the war in Yemen. It should be comprehensive and inclusive and guarantee the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen, in line with the Riyadh agreement. To establish lasting peace, we must fight impunity in Yemen. We are very concerned about the recruitment and use of children into the fighting in Ma'rib. The conclusions of the Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict should be fully implemented. We must also prevent an environmental disaster, which would also be a human and economic disaster for Yemen, and more broadly for the region. The Houthis will be responsible for it if they do not immediately allow the United Nations assessment team have access to the FSO SAFER oil tanker. We call on them to act responsibly and for the Yemeni people. The new wave of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is extremely alarming. It is essential to ramp up the vaccination campaign, thanks to the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility and to provide equitable access to the vaccine. The risk of famine continues to increase on a daily basis. In this context, it is more essential than ever to guarantee full humanitarian access to all those in need, particularly in areas controlled by the Houthis. Finally, we cannot repeat it enough: even war has rules. International humanitarian law must be respected by all. I am thinking in particular of the protection of civilians. Violations of international humanitarian law will not go unpunished. You can count on France to remain fully engaged and mobilized for peace in Yemen and to work towards de-escalation and the implementation of confidence- building measures in the region.

I welcome Special Envoy Martin Griffiths and Under-Secretary General Mark Lowcock and thank them for their briefings on the current situation in Yemen. I also welcome the presence of the Permanent Representative of Yemen, Ambassador Abdullah Ali Fadhel Al-Saadi. As a country with a centuries-old relationship with Yemen and strong people- people ties, India is concerned by the instability, violence and suffering in Yemen. We are also deeply concerned about the humanitarian consequences of the ongoing military escalation in Ma’rib. The fighting has put the large population of Ma’rib, including more than 1 million internally displaced people, at grave risk. We hope that the ongoing diplomatic efforts result in the fighting ending soon. Reports about the growing presence of Al-Qaida in Ma’rib and its attacks in southern Yemen are also a cause for grave concern. We have repeatedly stated that the instability in Yemen will be exploited by terrorist groups to expand their presence in the country. While focusing on the political and military conflict, the Security Council must not overlook the threats posed by terrorist groups to peace and stability in the country and the region. The protracted conflict and deteriorating economic situation have only exacerbated the suffering of Yemeni people. The humanitarian situation is dire. The famine-like conditions in many governorates is expected to worsen the humanitarian crisis in the coming months. The full support of the international community is required to prevent a famine in the country. I would like to highlight two important issues in this regard. First, aid agencies must receive adequate funding to continue their aid programmes. They would otherwise be forced to scale down or end the aid, which would impact the people of Yemen. Secondly, humanitarian and commercial supplies cannot be linked with other issues. Restrictions that hamper the flow of essential commodities into Yemen and all impediments to the internal movement of humanitarian aid must be removed. We welcome the clearances issued by Government of Yemen recently for fuel ships to enter into Al-Hudaydah to ease the pressure on, access to and the availability of fuel in Yemen. We are glad that vaccines from India reached Yemen on 31 March and will contribute to the fight against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. However, the fight will not be effective until testing capacities are enhanced and complete information about the number of COVID-positive cases, especially in northern Yemen, are made available in a transparent manner. Another issue that is of concern is the FSO SAFER oil tanker. If not addressed, the deteriorating condition of the FSO SAFER tanker can result in an ecological and maritime catastrophe. We hope that all pending issues will be resolved urgently and that Ansar Allah will provide early access and facilitation to the United Nations to inspect the vessel and conduct any essential repairs without further delay. The only way to end the crisis in Yemen is through lasting and inclusive peace. The recent diplomatic initiatives have opened a new window of opportunity. We commend the efforts by Oman in facilitating dialogue among the key stakeholders towards finding a comprehensive solution to the conflict in Yemen. We also welcome the initiative announced by Saudi Arabia for fostering peace in Yemen. India supports all efforts to find an inclusive and peaceful political solution to the Yemen crisis through negotiations led and owned by the Yemeni people. The full and equal participation of women and youth in these negotiations is important. We call for an immediate halt to the offensive in Ma’rib and military operations in other parts of Yemen to create a conducive environment for these negotiations. We appreciate the efforts of Lieutenant General Abhijit Guha and the team from the United Nations Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement to prevent an escalation of hostilities in Al-Hudaydah. We hope that all parties in Yemen will engage in good faith with the United Nations Special Envoy and come to the negotiating table immediately to end the conflict. Let me conclude by reaffirming India’s strong commitment to Yemen’s unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. We hope to see enduring peace return to Yemen soon.

Like others, I would like to send our sincere best wishes for the Holy Month of Ramadan. I also thank Martin Griffiths and Mark Lowcock for their briefings and their candour again today. Every time we discuss this, we say it and we mean it: the terrible conflict in Yemen continues to cause unimaginable human suffering. However, as Mark said earlier, until we end the fighting, we cannot end the suffering. We urge support for all efforts to bring this conflict to an end. Ireland is encouraged that dialogue is continuing among the parties to the conflict and has been bolstered by recent intensified diplomatic efforts from international and regional actors, as well as the tireless dedication and resilience of Special Envoy Griffiths. We welcome and commend the recent initiative and commitment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia towards a peace agreement. We also acknowledge the long- standing and the constructive role played by the Sultanate of Oman to bring an end to this horrific conflict. The work of United States Special Envoy Tim Lenderking, European Union Ambassador to Yemen Hans Grundberg, as well as other envoys, is particularly valuable at what we hope now will prove to be a critical juncture. Now more than ever, the international community and the Security Council must stand fully united behind efforts to end the conflict. An end to the conflict cannot come too soon for the people of Yemen. As we heard earlier today, the toll of human suffering is rising and the situation on the ground remains dire. Ma’rib has become the crucible of renewed hostilities and violence, resulting in widespread displacement, and we urge an immediate end to this offensive. We all know that there can be no military solution to this conflict — a nationwide ceasefire is urgently needed. Only then can the work begin on a comprehensive political settlement, including — and we underline this again — the full, equal and meaningful participation of women at every step in the process. We are very concerned by the rapid rise that we have heard about in coronavirus disease cases and the shocking reports of high levels of associated fatalities. Yemenis face a shattered health system and a deeply degraded economy. Amid widespread hunger, the devaluation of the rial means that millions of Yemenis are unable to purchase food. Those who are not paid a salary are totally unable to support their own families. Fuel shortages limit the functioning of schools, transport, hospitals and other vital infrastructure. In addition to ensuring that fuel and food are imported and delivered to those who need it most, we know it is also vital to ensure basic economic stability. The recent import of fuel into Al-Hudaydah port was welcome, and we call on all parties to urgently implement further practical actions that might go some way towards easing the suffering of the Yemeni people. The instability of the FSO SAFER oil tanker — we raise it every time — continues to threaten a new catastrophe. It is welcome news that there were recent talks on this issue, and we call on all parties to rapidly conclude discussions so that the United Nations teams, which are ready to go, can access the tanker and carry out the necessary repairs. I want to mention in particular today the plight of children in Yemen, which has come into sharper focus as a result of recent hostilities. As Mr. Griffiths lamented this week: “a generation has been lost”. We continue to witness grave violations against children, including killing and maiming, denial of basic humanitarian access and the horrific recruitment and use of child soldiers. Over 2 million Yemeni children are out of school. We call on all parties to the conflict to abide by their obligations and responsibilities under international humanitarian law and international human rights law and to take the necessary measures to end and prevent such violations. Surely the children of Yemen, who have suffered six long years of conflict, at a minimum deserve peace and the chance of a brighter future.

I thank Special Envoy Martin Griffiths and Under-Secretary-General Mark Lowcock for their briefings. Kenya strongly condemns the increasing aerial cross-border attacks by the Houthis on civilian facilities in Saudi Arabia. We call on all the parties to refrain from any activities that would jeopardize ongoing peace efforts. Kenya remains deeply concerned over the deteriorating situation in Ma’rib. Over the last week, we have witnessed an increasing number of casualties. Sadly, this is eroding any previous gains towards peace. We note that the fighting has now displaced around 20,000 people — 5,000 more since the Security Council last met (see S/2021/266) in March — thereby placing an additional burden on already constrained relief and humanitarian efforts. The humanitarian crisis is compounded by the second wave of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which is rapidly spreading across Yemen. With the fragile health infrastructure, deteriorating economy and enduring violence, the international community has to step in and offer COVID-19 response solutions, including the provision of additional vaccines. Kenya has previously cautioned that the violent conflict is creating a vacuum that is filled by terrorist groups. The reports that former combatants affiliated with Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula and with the Islamic State are being equipped to fight in Ma’rib must be acted on urgently. We condemn the use of terrorism for political ends. We reiterate our conviction that terrorist groups should not be rewarded any political legitimacy. We believe the world will rue the day when attempts to build peace and security with actors who have undertaken terrorist atrocities to sit at the negotiating table. We hope that this viewpoint is carefully considered by Special Envoy Griffiths. We remain supportive of his efforts to resolve Yemen’s complex crisis. We welcome the recent initiatives by the United States, Saudi Arabia and Oman that dovetail with the Special Envoy’s task. We hope for a united stance by the Security Council to reinforce these efforts to assist the parties to successfully achieve a peaceful political solution. That solution will emerge from an inclusive and comprehensive resolution that will address the immediate and long-term concerns of all parties and bring to an end to the unbearable suffering the people of Yemen have had to endure. Kenya notes the positive developments on the FSO SAFER tanker. We reiterate our call on the authorities handling the ship to urgently provide unhindered access to the United Nations technical team to conduct the necessary inspection and repairs so as to avert the looming environmental threat. In conclusion, we believe that peace in Yemen is achievable if the process proceeds with its being Yemeni owned and Yemeni-led. We wish our brothers and sisters in Yemen a Ramadan Kareem and pray that this holy month will bring with it lasting peace and prosperity to them and their families.

At the outset, I thank Special Envoy Martin Griffiths and Under-Secretary- General Mark Lowcock for their briefings. As Under-Secretary-General Lowcock has noted, the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate severely due to the pandemic, economic fragility and, above all, the unnecessary prolongation of the armed conflict. We note with great dismay the growing impact of violence on the civilian population, which, among other things, has led to an increase in the number of displaced persons, which now stands at more than 4 million. Without an end to the hostilities, humanitarian work will be almost impossible and basic care for vulnerable groups difficult. Mexico therefore expresses great concern over the persistent Houthi offensive against Ma’rib, in addition to the 50 open conflict fronts and the accentuation of violence in towns such as Al-Hudaydah, Hajjah, Sana’a, Sa’ada, Al-Jawf and Taiz. We condemn in the strongest terms the Houthi attacks on Ma’rib, as well as on various Saudi targets. We urge Ansar Allah, as well as the other parties, to immediately cease hostilities and heed the Secretary-General’s call for a global ceasefire. We also note an increase in the number of African immigrants transiting Yemen, and extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed in this week’s incident off the coast of Djibouti. We call on both Ansar Allah and the Government of Yemen to guarantee the protection of the rights of all migrants. On the other hand, we welcome the improvement measures implemented by the International Organization for Migration in the camps for displaced persons, including improvements in the electricity network and cooking areas, the reduction of overcrowding and the development of training and prevention for the residents of these camps. While we welcome the first batch of coronavirus disease vaccines that Yemen received on 31 March, thanks to the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access (COVAX) Facility, it is clear that the number of doses is insufficient. We hope for an early delivery of more batches and for the vaccination campaign to develop expeditiously and efficiently. We reiterate the importance of the cessation of hostilities in contributing to the efficient performance of humanitarian work, including medical care and vaccination. Similarly, my delegation welcomes the recent initiative proposed by Saudi Arabia and commends the mediation efforts of the Sultanate of Oman. Mexico supports all projects in favour of peace and stability in Yemen, particularly those aimed at ending the suffering of the population. There being no military solution to the conflict, we once again urge the parties to participate in the negotiation of a broad and inclusive political agreement, facilitated by the United Nations and based on resolution 2216 (2015). While welcoming progress in the implementation of the Riyadh accords, we urge the Yemeni Government and the Southern Transitional Council to continue the application of measures focused on the consolidation and reactivation of public institutions and reforms in favour of economic recovery. Before concluding, we reiterate the urgent call on Ansar Allah to allow the immediate inspection of the SFO SAFER oil tanker by United Nations teams. As has been mentioned, the SFO SAFER poses an environmental, economic and humanitarian threat. The repercussions of a catastrophe of this magnitude would affect not only the residents of the Red Sea, but also the members of Ansar Allah themselves. Finally, at the start of the holy month of Ramadan, I wish all our Muslim friends around the world Ramadan Kareem — Happy Ramadan.

I would like to thank Mr. Martin Griffiths and Mr. Mark Lowcock for their briefings on the situation in Yemen. We also welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Yemen in this meeting. The war in Yemen has now raged for six years and inflicted multifaceted suffering on the people. The actors in the conflict in Yemen must show a sense of real compromise and go beyond their selfish interests to resume the dialogue, which, moreover, remains the only way to lead to a lasting peace in the country. We condemn the escalation of hostilities, in particular around Ma’rib, the drone attacks on Saudi territory and the recruitment of child soldiers by parties to the conflict. The renewed hostilities will only dash any hope for the resumption of negotiations and the delivery of humanitarian assistance to populations in need. In this regard, my delegation calls on the Yemeni authorities to allow the reopening of ports and airports so as to ensure the entry of basic necessities and fuel in order to alleviate the difficulties faced by the populations. The Niger reiterates that resolving the crisis will inevitably require inclusive dialogue among Yemenis, with the support of the international community. We call on all parties to work together for the return of peace to Yemen and for the good of all its people. Likewise, resolving this crisis will require a paradigm shift and a new and creative, diplomacy-driven approach on the part of the United Nations and Yemen’s international partners. In this regard, my country welcomes the offer by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to end the fighting and restart the political process in Yemen, as well as Oman’s mediation efforts. We invite the other regional actors and members of the Council with influence on the parties to the conflict to spare no effort in supporting the Yemenis on the difficult but unavoidable path of dialogue, reconciliation and peace. In conclusion, I would like to reiterate our strong support and encouragement to Special Envoy Martin Griffiths in his efforts to restore dialogue between the Yemeni parties. We are hopeful that the diplomatic mobilization that has manifested itself in recent times will help trigger a positive dynamic conducive to a resolution of this conflict, which has devastated Yemen and hurt its people.

I thank Martin Griffiths and Mark Lowcock for their briefings. We are encouraged by the Special Envoy’s continued efforts, in close collaboration with United States Special Envoy Lenderking and with the engagement of regional actors such as Oman and Saudi Arabia. Hopefully, this will lead to more positive developments in Yemen. We believe that inclusive political processes — in which all regions and parties to the conflict are represented — are important to building durable peace. This, of course, includes women’s full, equal and meaningful participation and taking a gender-sensitive approach to conflict resolution. The need for inclusivity must be kept in mind during the current United Nations-led consultations, and also when the parties are deciding on the members of the two negotiation teams. Norway remains very concerned by the offensive in Ma’rib, and continuing cross-border attacks into Saudi Arabia. This threatens stability not only in Yemen, but in the region. We also see the emergence of new front lines. These actions could lead to a serious escalation of the conflict. The humanitarian situation continues to be extremely troubling; where the prospect of widespread hunger and the shortage of fuel is added to by a reported second wave of the coronavirus disease pandemic now spreading through the country. We welcome recent announcements by the Government allowing a number of fuel vessels into the port to ease the humanitarian crisis; however, more steps are needed. All parties must facilitate humanitarian access and avoid using these issues politically. The many reports of violations of international humanitarian law and of human rights violations and abuses are of grave concern. Recent attacks on camps for internally displaced persons in Ma’rib are appalling. I also find it especially difficult to find words to describe and respond to the continued violations and abuses against children in Yemen. They have been subjected to the denial of humanitarian access, leading to malnutrition and starvation, killing and maiming, as well as recruitment and use in armed conflict. Such acts are completely unacceptable and must immediately come to an end. Those responsible must be held accountable. The Riyadh agreement and the establishment of the new Government in December 2020 were important steps towards peace. The parties to the agreement should now work constructively to ensure its implementation. We would like to stress the need for those who have supported the Government, including in the south and on the west coast, to cooperate and combine efforts. Fragmentation will serve only to undermine the prospects for peace. It is important for the Security Council to keep its attention on the situation in the south. And it will be important to support the Government’s ability to ensure good governance and the delivery of basic services to the population. This could be a beacon of hope and could enhance prospects for a peaceful solution. We also remain concerned by the FSO SAFER oil tanker. We continue to encourage the Houthis to act constructively in this regard. We have just entered the month of Ramadan. We call on all parties, especially the Houthis, to show mercy and compassion by engaging in an unconditional nationwide ceasefire and political talks. All parties should enter into such arrangements without preconditions. And there is a need for all parties to make difficult compromises. It is their duty to prevent the onset of widespread hunger and put a final stop to the ever- worsening humanitarian crisis.

We thank Special Envoy of the Secretary-General Martin Griffiths and Under Secretary-General Mark Lowcock for the reviews of the political and humanitarian situations in Yemen. Unfortunately, the negative trends still persist in Yemen, and there has been no breakthrough that would bring closer the political settlement of the crisis. We are concerned over the continuing escalation in Ma’rib, reported armed action in other parts of the country as well as strikes against the territory of Saudi Arabia. We once again call on the sides to look for political and diplomatic solutions in order to resolve the conflict. We welcome the initiative of Saudi Arabia aimed at a peaceful resolution of the crisis through terminating armed action, resuming operations at the Sana’a International Airport, allowing humanitarian and commercial vessels to enter the Al-Hudaydah port and starting inter-Yemeni negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations that should define the future political structure of the country. This initiative is in line with the previously announced plan of Special Envoy Griffiths. We proceed from the understanding that a comprehensive long-term settlement of the conflict can be achieved once the interests of all key political forces in Yemen are taken into account. We are going to further support the corresponding efforts of the Special Envoy and encourage President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi Mansour and the leaders of Ansar Allah movement to stick to a constructive approach and be ready for compromise. We welcome the constructive role of States of the region, including Oman, in the mediation efforts. An important step towards promoting the implementation of the Riyadh agreement of 5 November 2019, which was designed to normalize the situation in the south of Yemen, was taken in December 2020 when a new coalition Government was formed to include representatives of the Southern Transitional Council. We hope that the implementation of the agreements mentioned will enhance public safety and security and allow for a focus on acute socioeconomic and humanitarian problems in that part of Yemen. The numerous humanitarian challenges cannot be addressed effectively unless there is progress on the political track. That includes lifting the sea, air and land blockade of the country and other urgent practical steps aimed at improving the critical socioeconomic situation. Broad-based assistance from the international community is needed to counter famine and disease. We are concerned over United Nations reports that since March 2021 Yemen has witnessed an increase in the incidence coronavirus disease and related deaths. According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance, the 2021 humanitarian response plan for Yemen has been financed only to the level of 13 per cent. We therefore call on the donors, including in the region, to enhance the required financial support for United Nations programmes that are providing basic assistance, including those ensuring food security for the population and non-discriminatory access to clean water and medical services. We are convinced that mutually acceptable solutions, free from any political implications, can also help solve the problem of the FSO SAFER tanker. The entire Persian Gulf area needs to de-escalate. We therefore recall that the relevant resolutions of the Security Council and the Russian collective security concept can lay the groundwork for advancing the international efforts aimed at stabilizing this subregion.

I wish to thank Special Envoy Martin Griffiths and Under-Secretary-General Mark Lowcock for their informative briefings and sustained commitment to the people of Yemen and to a peaceful settlement to the conflict. The protracted conflict continues to deny the people of Yemen basic rights and freedoms. First, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is particularly concerned by the stark resurgence of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic against the backdrop of a strained health-care system and a lack of adequate supplies. We welcome the shipment of vaccines that arrived at the end of March through the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility as being critical to the COVID-19 emergency response. However, more must be done to support the fight against the pandemic in Yemen. More broadly, we recall the pledges made by Member States during the pledging conference held in March and urge the rapid disbursement of funds. We acknowledge the difficult economic circumstances globally, but financial aid is what maintains humanitarian operations and makes the difference between life and death for many Yemenis. We also take this moment to underscore our concern over the persistent fuel shortages, which have adversely impacted health facilities, undermined humanitarian operations and exacerbated the dire humanitarian situation. We call for a durable solution to this issue, which necessitates the lifting of the blockade. Turning to the security situation, we condemn the continued hostilities, including the cross-border attacks on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The ongoing fighting within Yemen, particularly in Ma’rib, remains of huge concern on all fronts. It threatens to reverse any political progress previously made and further threatens the lives of many internally displaced persons who initially fled to Ma’rib to seek refuge. These continued forced displacements underscore that civilians, particularly women and children, are paying the price for this conflict and that a long-lasting solution is urgently needed. Against this dire backdrop, the momentum within the international community to end the war in Yemen is a positive sign. In this regard, we welcome the recent engagement between the United States Special Envoy, Tim Lenderking, and the German Foreign Minister, in conjunction with Special Envoy Griffiths, and further welcome all efforts undertaken by the international community to bring an end to the conflict. What is needed now is the unconditional political will to end the war from all stakeholders within Yemen and among those connected to the situation. That begins with an unwavering commitment to a nationwide ceasefire and the resumption of a comprehensive Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process. We underscore that inclusive dialogue, with meaningful representation and participation by all stakeholders, is critical to sustainable peace in Yemen. Before concluding, we would like to address the unresolved issue of the FSO SAFER oil tanker. We recognize and welcome the efforts being undertaken to secure the deployment of the United Nations team. Denial of access to the tanker is a threat to the environment, the economy and the people of Yemen. Politicization of this issue diminishes any opportunity for cooperation and confidence-building, which are critical to achieving concrete progress. To that end, we call on parties to work towards a meaningful compromise, with the environment and the people of Yemen at the fore. When the environment becomes a victim of war, it creates a multitude of problems in the complex relationship between humans and nature that reverberate for generations. We owe it to Yemenis and their future generations to leave a better legacy.

I would like to thank Special Envoy Martin Griffiths and Under-Secretary- General Mark Lowcock for their valuable briefings. Ongoing diplomatic efforts in the region aim to pave the way for the peaceful settlement of a conflict that has progressively gotten worse and that has brought Yemen nothing but devastation and hostilities that have left thousands dead or wounded and millions displaced, creating the world’s largest humanitarian disaster. The coronavirus disease pandemic has further complicated the situation and compounded the suffering of the Yemeni people, undermining prospects for a peaceful solution. Tunisia reiterates that there can be no military solution to this crisis. The experience of the past few years, marked by tragedies and dangerous repercussions, has shown that the only solution that can prevent the situation from deteriorating further and end the Yemeni people’s suffering is a political settlement on the basis of the agreed-upon terms of reference, namely, the Gulf Cooperation Council Initiative and its Implementation Mechanism, the outcomes of the All-Inclusive National Dialogue Conference, and the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolution 2216 (2015). A settlement will remain elusive unless the parties to the conflict commit to an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire, engage seriously and constructively in political negotiations, strive to reach consensus, and place the interests of the Yemeni people above all other considerations. We call on all parties to comply strictly with international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Tunisia supports all United Nations, international and regional efforts to help end the Yemeni crisis through a political settlement that will put an end to the suffering of the Yemeni people and preserve the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Yemen. In that context, Tunisia once again commends the Saudi Arabian initiative to resolve the various elements of the crisis in Yemen. That initiative constitutes an important step towards ending the fighting and resuming the political process in Yemen, in line with the efforts of United Nations Special Envoy Martin Griffiths. Tunisia appreciates the mediation efforts and the important role of Oman in bridging the gap between divergent views and easing tensions. We also commend the efforts of the United States envoy to the region to support a political settlement, end the fighting and defuse the conflict. The ongoing fighting in Ma’rib may well undermine efforts to end the crisis and increases the likelihood of further deterioration and complications, with perilous humanitarian consequences. The people of Ma’rib have endured the worst mass displacement since the crisis began, with over one million people under siege, their living conditions and health at risk of further decline and their very lives in danger. We also once again condemn the repeated attacks on the territory and civilian infrastructure of Saudi Arabia. Yemen is still in the throes of the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Two- thirds of the population require humanitarian assistance to survive, with 16 million people at risk of going hungry this year, and more than half of Yemeni children under five suffering from acute malnutrition. These alarming figures underscore just how dire the humanitarian situation in Yemen is; hence the need to continue supporting humanitarian efforts and to facilitate uninterrupted access to aid by those in need. In closing, we reiterate our deep concern about the risk that the SFO SAFER oil tanker poses to the region. We once again call for the facilitation of measures to deploy United Nations experts to carry out the necessary technical inspections and repairs as soon as possible in order to avert an environmental, humanitarian and economic catastrophe.

I join others in sending good wishes for the Holy Month of Ramadan. As Yemen and the Muslim world celebrate the Holy Month of Ramadan, Yemen, as we have heard, is sadly experiencing the darkness — the darkness of a second coronavirus disease (COVID-19) wave, with official case numbers doubling since the beginning of the year. Lack of testing means this is but the tip of the iceberg. The darkness, too, of imminent famine; its people can ill afford a renewed COVID-19 crisis. And we note, too, the testimony of the Special Envoy on the particular experience of Yemeni women at this time and throughout the war. So we very much support United Nations agencies’ efforts to redouble their efforts to respond to COVID-19, and we encourage the Yemeni authorities to disclose data, implement suppression measures and allow access for international staff and supplies. The United Kingdom fully supports the work of Special Envoy Griffiths to secure a national ceasefire and a resumption of the political process, for which he set out a very clear vision. The increased engagement from the United States and from Oman in support of the United Nations process is important and welcomed. But despite increased dialogue, the Houthis have continued their offensive on Ma’rib, displacing thousands and endangering civilians. Indeed, in the same week that Saudi Arabia publicly reiterated its commitment to a peace deal, the Houthis launched a massive drone and missile attack on civilian targets in Saudi Arabia. With the notable exception of Iran, the international community has welcomed the Saudi announcement and condemned the Houthi military escalations. We must be clear about who is frustrating United Nations efforts, and I encourage all parties to engage constructively and without preconditions with the United Nations proposals. The United Kingdom welcomes the recent release of further fuel ships into Al-Hudaydah. However, as we have heard, this equates to only around 30 per cent of the fuel that the port would have expected to receive since the beginning of the year. We strongly urge the Government of Yemen to immediately release all remaining fuel ships and for all parties to work constructively with the Special Envoy towards a sustainable solution. Severe fuel shortages continue to threaten food distribution to millions of Yemenis over the coming months, at a time when 16 million risk starvation. And so the United Kingdom calls on the Houthis to ensure that any fuel that arrives is distributed transparently and not used to fund their escalation of the conflict. Finally, the FSO SAFER oil tanker continues to pose a grave risk to Yemen and to the Red Sea. The Suez Canal incident only highlights how fragile maritime routes are, and we welcome Under-Secretary-General Lowcock’s recent update. While there were constructive United Nations-Houthi discussions last week, the Houthis have not yet agreed to facilitate the United Nations assessment mission. The vessel is under Houthi control, and the responsibility for this matter rests on Houthi shoulders. If the Houthis fail to act on their stated desire to avert this crisis, then we will look to the Security Council to discuss further what steps we can take.

Let me thank the briefers for their informative updates. Today I would like to talk about three aspects of the situation in Yemen: our efforts towards a ceasefire, the Houthi violence and violations preventing peace, and the country’s dire humanitarian crisis. First, diplomacy can, should and must end the war in Yemen. And we heard that from Martin Griffiths. United States Special Envoy Timothy Lenderking is leading our diplomatic efforts, working closely with the United Nations to bring the parties together and conclude this conflict. The goals are clear: achieve a comprehensive, nationwide ceasefire, re-open Sana’a’s international airport, implement the Stockholm Agreement’s financial provisions and immediately start political consultations. Special Envoy Lenderking’s return in late March from Saudi Arabia and Oman, where he held productive meetings with Omani, Saudi and Yemeni senior leaders, in coordination with Special Envoy Griffiths, is part of that. As he outlined on that trip, the first step is for all parties to stop fighting and commit to a ceasefire. So we welcome Saudi Arabia’s announcement on 22 March of its commitment to reach a ceasefire and engage in inclusive political talks to help end the conflict. We also welcome the Government of Yemen’s continued commitment to reach a ceasefire. We now urge the Houthis to respond and to engage productively. This leads me directly to my second point: Houthi actions to date do not lead us to believe they are committed to a peaceful resolution of the conflict. The Houthi offensive in Ma’rib continues to take Yemeni lives, including among those internally displaced. And we condemn the Houthis for their violence against internally displaced persons sites on the outskirts of Ma’rib, as well as the almost daily drone and ballistic missile attacks on Saudi Arabia. The Houthis also continue their dereliction of duty with the FSO SAFER oil tanker, delaying the United Nations assessment and initial repair of the vessel. This needs to end. For nearly two years, the Houthis have continued to move the goalposts. And we call on them to allow the assessment to proceed without further delays and urge other nations to press the Houthis to allow the assessment immediately. Worst of all, the Houthis continue to consistently defy people’s basic human rights. Levi Marhabi, a Yemeni Jew, has been wrongfully detained by the Houthis just for his religious beliefs. For years he has sat behind bars without cause. His mother stayed in Yemen — risking her own life — to be near him. And she refused to abandon her child. But a few weeks ago the Houthis summarily deported more members of the Yemeni Jewish community, including Levi’s mother. And the pain that the Marhabi family is experiencing exemplifies the pain of so many Yemenis today. So we reiterate our call for the Houthis to immediately release Levi and stop their human rights abuses. And we ask that the international community also join us in that call. Enough of the violence. And enough of the violations. It is time for the Houthis to respond to the proposal for a nationwide ceasefire. And it is time they respect their obligations under international humanitarian law, including obligations regarding the protection of civilians. Just look at what the continued conflict is doing to the country. Yemen faces the worst humanitarian emergency in the world. Over 16 million Yemenis — more than half of the country’s population — are in acute need of food assistance. So we call on all parties to permit the free flow of both commercial and humanitarian commodities, including fuel, food and medical supplies. And until we can end this war, the international community must step up to fund the humanitarian responses without delay. And we heard that from Mark Lowcock. On the fuel shortage specifically, thank you to Saudi Arabia for contributing over $422 million in fuel grant support to the Republic of Yemen Government, aimed at providing electricity to the population. We ask Saudi Arabia to ensure this fuel is delivered as quickly as possible. The recent clearance of four fuel vessels in northern Yemen is a positive step in the short term, and we welcome the Yemeni Government’s announcement of its intent to clear three additional ships. But these measures are not enough. We understand the urgent need for fuel to get into Al-Hudaydah port. This is a constant priority in our conversations with the Yemeni Government and with Saudi Arabia. But it is critical that all parties — including the Houthis, who use fuel to fund their war effort — allow both commercial and humanitarian commodities to reach those who need them. Otherwise, the humanitarian emergency in Houthi- controlled areas will become unimaginably bleak. Fortunately, I believe we have a real opportunity here. We can implement a ceasefire. We can pressure the Houthis to stop the violence and violations. And we can address the humanitarian crisis. This is a rare opportunity for progress. It will take all of us — all of us working together — to make this happen. And I hope we have the courage to do that. Eid Mubarak to all of our Muslim colleagues and to all the Yemeni people.

I thank Mr. Martin Griffiths, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, and Mr. Mark Lowcock, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, for their comprehensive briefings. It has been nearly seven years since the war broke out in Yemen. The country continues to face prolonged fighting and crisis. We remain concerned about military escalations and cross-border fighting in parts of Yemen. It is also distressing to learn that civilians, especially women and children, continue to be targeted. In this context, we welcome the Special Envoy’s efforts during his recent trips to meet the parties concerned to promote the United Nations-facilitated peace process, which includes the nationwide ceasefire, the re-opening of Sana’a airport and the facilitation of operations at the Al-Hudaydah port. We echo his call for the international community’s full support for a comprehensive political settlement in Yemen at this critical juncture. We also welcome all efforts by the countries in the region, including the recent mediation activities of the Sultanate of Oman, in promoting an inclusive political process under the auspices of the United Nations to end the conflict comprehensively and sustainably. We stress the importance of the coherence of these contributions with the continued efforts of Special Envoy Griffiths. We urge the parties concerned to immediately cease all hostilities and resume the political process without further delay. We call on parties to the conflict to stop attacks on civilian infrastructure and neighbourhoods and protect the most vulnerable. Yemen’s dire humanitarian situation, after seven years of protracted conflict, has faced more tremendous challenges including, among others the economic crisis, fuel shortages, food insecurity and the prospect of a large-scale famine. Yemenis have had limited access to food, medicine and essential services — 16.2 million people are projected to go hungry in 2021. Four million Yemenis have been displaced. Over 2 million children have been deprived of opportunities to go to school. Fuel prices doubled or tripled in some areas as a result of desperate shortages. Moreover, the recent second wave of the coronavirus disease pandemic has hit the country with a surge in infections and deaths. The hindered access for humanitarian workers has further exacerbated the vulnerability and predicament of people across the country. We are very concerned about such prolonged trends. Therefore, we reiterate our calls on all parties to provide prompt, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access to, and facilitate humanitarian operations in, Yemen. It is also necessary to tackle the funding shortage adequately and immediately so that humanitarian assistance can be delivered to the people in need in a timely manner. Yemeni people are dying every day. The more quickly we react, the more lives we save. It is encouraging to learn that Ansar Allah and the United Nations have reached a verbal technical agreement on the FSO SAFER oil tanker issue. We look forward to seeing a written deal so that the United Nations team can perform its duties without any further delays. We are running out of time. We need to prevent an environmental disaster for Yemen and the region. Last but not least, it is imperative for parties to the conflict to fully implement the Stockholm Agreement and the Riyadh agreement. We also call on the parties to ensure women’s meaningful participation in the political process. We commend the tireless work of Special Envoy Griffiths and the United Nations team and support their peace proposals for Yemen.

At the outset, allow me to congratulate you on your assumption of the presidency of the Council this month, and to wish you every success in the fulfilment of your mandate, and to thank your predecessor, the Permanent Representative of the United States, for her successful presidency of the Council. The Government of Yemen, under the guidance and leadership of President Abdrabuh Mansour Hadi Mansour, is making every effort to end the war, alleviate the suffering of Yemenis and achieve a just, comprehensive and lasting peace through the United Nations-led peace process, on the basis of the terms of reference for a political solution in Yemen, namely, the Initiative of the Gulf Cooperation Council initiative and its implementation mechanism, the outcomes of the All-Inclusive National Dialogue Conference, and the relevant Security Council resolutions, in particular resolution 2216 (2015). The Government reaffirms its support for United Nations efforts, through Special Envoy Martin Griffiths, to establish peace in Yemen, and for all proposals and initiatives aimed at achieving that objective. It welcomes the initiative of Saudi Arabia in the context of international efforts to end the insurrection and the war. That initiative, which enjoys broad international consensus, constitutes an important step towards ending the crisis. While the Government of Yemen continues to engage constructively in the aforementioned efforts offering many concessions, it lacks a partner genuinely interested in pursuing peace. The Houthi militias remain intransigent, publicly rejecting all initiatives and proposals aimed at ending their senseless war and establishing peace. They continue their barbaric aggression against Ma’rib governorate, attacking civilians and camps for displaced persons with ballistic missiles, uncrewed aerial vehicles and other heavy weapons. Most recently, militias bombed three camps for displaced persons in northern Ma’rib, firing 37 artillery shells and missiles. There were dozens of casualties, most of them women and children. Since 6 February, more than 2,400 families have been displaced by the brutal attacks, which blatantly defied the Council’s calls for an end to the aggression and which imperil the peace process, undermine the political process as a whole, place the lives of millions of civilians at risk, and are spurring a fresh wave of displacement, compounding the suffering of Yemenis. We call on the Council and on the international community to condemn those vicious attacks, which contravene international humanitarian law and international human rights law; to exert the utmost pressure in order to put an end to the militias’ violations against millions of civilians and displaced persons; and to address the militias’ disregard for the international community and their failure to abide by any agreement or commitment, most recently the Stockholm Agreement. The Government of Yemen is aware of the magnitude of our people’s suffering in the current humanitarian situation and of the economic and development challenges caused by the protracted unjust war being waged by the Houthi militias. In order to alleviate that suffering, the Government has continued recently — specifically in the first quarter of 2021 — to facilitate the flow of oil derivatives to areas under Houthi control at a normal rate compared to the past two years and in amounts that meet existing needs. Despite the looting by Houthi militias of more than 70 billion Yemeni rials in Government fuel shipment revenues, which the militias used to finance their war effort, instead of paying the salaries of civil servants per the agreement with the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, the Government of Yemen has granted entry permits to some 40 ships through Hudaydah port since 2020. Port fees have been collected and confiscated by the militias, which have refused to allow the office of the Special Envoy to monitor revenues. The Government has also facilitated the entry of fuel through liberated ports and by land. In the past two days, the Government has granted entry permits on an exceptional basis to a number of ships carrying oil derivatives to Al-Hudaydah port to mitigate human suffering despite the Houthi militias’ continued violation of the Stockholm Agreement. The oil imported to areas under Houthi control accounts for approximately 60 per cent of overall oil imports into Yemen. That amount is sufficient to cover civilian and humanitarian needs. The Government of Yemen affirms that it is committed to ensuring that fuel supplies reach all areas, especially those areas under Houthi control. However, it calls on the international community and all international organizations to demand that the Houthi militias stop capitalizing politically on human suffering by fabricating crises and then trading oil derivatives on the black market to fund their war against Yemenis. Pressure should be brought to bear on the militias to agree to use the proceeds of those shipments, as agreed with the Special Envoy, to pay public sector employees their salaries, thereby alleviating real human suffering. Once again, we ask the Council, out of respect for the victims and for international humanitarian law, to ensure that the perpetrators of the attack on Aden International Airport are held accountable. The Panel of Experts should also conduct a transparent and independent investigation to uncover the details of the heinous crime, perpetrated by Houthi militias, of setting African migrants on fire in Sana’a, and bring those involved to justice. The terrorist attacks perpetrated by the Houthi militias against Saudi Arabian civilians, civilian objects and economic installations systematically and deliberately target energy resources and the nerve centre of the global economy, the security and stability of oil supplies and the freedom of global maritime navigation and trade, in f lagrant violation of international humanitarian law. These attacks confirm that the Houthi militias reject all political efforts to end the crisis, especially following the announcement of the Saudi Arabian initiative. They also prove that Iran continues to direct the political and military decisions of these militias, through which that country is carrying out its subversive agenda of sowing chaos and undermining regional security and stability. These militias’ decision-making is not their own but is instead dependent on the Iranian regime. The international community must shoulder its responsibilities, put an end to the irresponsible conduct of these militias and take all necessary measures to maintain regional and international security and stability. The deterioration of the Yemeni economy continues to compound human suffering, especially as a result of the outbreak of the coronavirus disease pandemic, whose second wave has recently hit many Yemeni governorates. We demand that the Houthi militias disclose the number of coronavirus cases in the areas under their control, and we appeal to the international community and international organizations to increase their support for Yemen to combat the pandemic. In spite of the difficult circumstances, the Government of Yemen continues to work to stimulate development, maintain the value of the Yemeni rial and achieve economic recovery. Doing so will require generous international support in the economic and development areas and an increase in contributions to the humanitarian response plan. We greatly appreciate the grant by Saudi Arabia of $422 million worth of oil derivatives to support the operation of power stations in Yemen. If the situation of the SFO SAFER oil tanker continues to deteriorate and no tangible progress is made, environmental, economic and humanitarian disaster will ensue. Hundreds of communities on the Red Sea coast in Yemen and neighbouring countries rely on fishing as livelihood and for food supply. The leakage of more than 1 million barrels of oil would have grave environmental consequences, depriving those communities of their sources of subsistence and survival, in addition to placing global trading routes at risk. The time has thus come for this Council to take strict deterrent measures against the militias’ intransigence and stalling, in order to prevent a major catastrophe. The Council must do more than call for the Panel of Experts to be granted access to the tanker, as such calls have gone unheeded by the militias.