S/PV.10135 Security Council

In accordance with rule 37 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the representative of Yemen to participate in this meeting. In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in this meeting: Mr. Hans Grundberg, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, and Ms. Edem Wosornu, Director, Crisis Response Division, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I now give the floor to Mr. Grundberg. Mr. Grundberg: Allow me to begin by expressing my deepest sympathies for the civilian suffering in your country, Mr. President, and across the wider region. The people of Bahrain, like so many across this region, have lived through weeks of violence imposed upon them and wholly undeserved. We now look to the ceasefire between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran to help to end this conflict and begin lifting the long shadow of uncertainty and fear it has cast over the region. The stakes for the people of the region, including in Yemen, could not be higher. Yemen has not been spared the gravitational pull of this war. When Ansar Allah launched attacks against Israel at the end of March, there was global concern that the war would expand to another front. I shared that concern. I was also alarmed that Yemen risked again being drawn into a full-on regional confrontation, with devastating consequences for its people. Thus far, Yemen has avoided that fate, but risks remain. I echo the Secretary-General’s call on the parties to the current conflict in the Middle East to abide by the terms of the ceasefire, and I call on Ansar Allah to refrain from any further attacks. Throughout the past two months, I have engaged intensively with the Yemeni parties, including Ansar Allah, and with regional and international actors. From Amman and on trips to Aden, Moscow, Riyadh and Washington, D.C., I have been emphasizing the need to safeguard Yemen’s peace process from regional escalation and to maintain freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The concerns about maritime security now gripping the world have been live issues in Yemen, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since 2023. I reiterate the need for freedom of navigation and international maritime law to be upheld. My recent trip to Aden was a reminder that after a decade of conflict, Yemen has little margin to absorb more shocks. The new Cabinet, under the leadership of Prime Minister Shaya Al-Zindani, whom I met in Aden, is prioritizing efforts to stabilize the economy, including regarding electricity provision and public sector salaries, with the vital support of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Two milestones deserve particular note: the approval of the 2026 State budget — the first in seven years — and the conclusion of article IV consultations between the Government and the International Monetary Fund — the first in 11 years. These are positive signs, but Yemen remains highly exposed to the economic repercussions of the regional escalation, and, as the global situation has made clear, it is always the poorest and most vulnerable who bear the heaviest burden. Yemenis across the country have long contended with inadequate public services, delayed salaries and rising prices, and they will now have to contend with import disruptions and higher fuel and food prices triggered by wider conflict in the Middle East. Yemen is also very dependent on remittances from countries of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, which are at risk of declining. These pressures fall on a Yemeni economy already weakened by the obstruction of government oil and gas exports, by the division of the Central Bank and by the broader weaponization of economic life that has, for too long, made ordinary Yemenis pay the price of decisions taken over their heads. My Office continues to engage the parties and other stakeholders in our economic track, while working to reduce economic tensions and build arrangements in which the parties have more to gain from cooperation than confrontation. These issues are inseparable from the search for a sustainable political settlement of the conflict. The broad de-escalation that has held inside Yemen since the 2022 truce remains a crucial achievement for the parties to build on. But there are worrisome indications, including reports of troop movements, that this relative calm cannot be taken for granted, particularly in a moment of regional turmoil. Moreover, Yemeni civilians continue to suffer the consequences of an unsettled conflict. The devastating Ansar Allah shelling of a Ramadan iftar gathering in Hajjah Governorate and the increased number of sniper incidents near the front lines in Ta‘izz resulted in civilian casualties, including children. I reiterate my call for accountability and respect for international humanitarian law. I am also concerned about the casualties during recent demonstrations in Mukalla. President Al-Alimi’s call for an investigation is a welcome step, and all actors must exercise restraint. Such incidents underscore the importance of advancing dialogue and shared understandings among southerners — a point reinforced by the civil society voices I heard during my visit to Aden. Turning to Hudaydah, the United Nations Mission to Support the Hudaydah Agreement concluded its mandate on 31 March in accordance with resolution 2813 (2026). My Office will continue to support the implementation of the Agreement through engagements with the parties, through our offices in Aden and Sana’a and in Amman. Achieving a nationwide ceasefire remains the priority, and we will continue our efforts to de-escalate front lines across Yemen. For the past 10 weeks, the parties have been in direct negotiations under United Nations auspices in Amman on conflict-related detainees. This is the longest round of negotiations on this issue. These talks show that negotiations on issues of deep importance to the Yemeni public remain possible, even in today’s difficult climate. While significant progress has been made, the talks have not yet come to a conclusion, and the parties need to make additional compromises to unlock the releases. I urge the parties to redouble their efforts and bring this process to a positive conclusion. I remain grateful to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for hosting these negotiations and the International Committee of the Red Cross for its vital role. The absence of loved ones is also felt deeply by the families of United Nations, non-governmental organization and embassy colleagues who remain arbitrarily detained by Ansar Allah. Of our 73 United Nations colleagues detained, several have been held incommunicado throughout the duration of their detention, while others have been allowed irregular contact with their families. These detentions violate United Nations privileges and immunities and are crippling the United Nations ability to carry out its mission, with direct consequences for the Yemeni people. I continue to urge Ansar Allah to immediately and unconditionally release all detainees and to halt all criminal proceedings, which lack due process. And I count on the Council’s steadfast support to push for their release. The way forward for Yemen’s peace process is not without challenges. Every escalation in the region deepens the trust deficit between the parties and increases the concern with which Yemen is viewed from beyond its borders. But Yemenis need a solution for Yemen; their future should not be held hostage to regional turmoil. An inclusive political process remains the only viable path to resolving the conflict durably, delivering a secure and prosperous future for Yemenis and providing the guarantees that the region and the international community need, including on freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. In such uncertain moments, there is often a temptation for parties to conflict to wait — to let the dust settle, to see where the chips fall and hope that they fall in one’s favour, and to believe that the regional storm might rearrange the table in ways that excuse one from the discomfort of compromise. However, to bet on the storm is to bet on something no one fully controls. The Yemeni parties must instead invest in achieving a political settlement that secures a better future for the Yemeni people. I call on the Council to continue its concerted efforts to help to ensure that they make this choice.

I thank Mr. Grundberg for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ms. Wosornu. Ms. Wosornu: This is our third briefing to the Security Council in 2026. What I am about to share is not new, but rather a deterioration of an already terrible situation that worsens every day. Across Yemen, millions of people are surviving day by day. A decade of conflict has left people hanging by a thread. More than 22 million people — over half of the population across Yemen — need humanitarian aid, and that number is rising. This crisis is hitting the most vulnerable first and hardest. Hunger is tightening its grip. More than 18 million people face severe hunger. Two out of every three families are forced to skip meals every day. Women and children, as always, are hit the hardest. The nutrition crisis continues unabated: 2.2 million children under the age of five are acutely malnourished, and 1.3 million pregnant and breastfeeding women face lifethreatening complications due to malnutrition. For too many children and mothers, this means irreversible, lifelong physical and cognitive damage, stunting and even death. At the same time, the health system is collapsing. Two out of every five health facilities are not fully functional, leaving more than 19 million people who need healthcare without it. Vaccine-preventable diseases are spreading fast — cholera, measles and diphtheria are ravaging communities in numbers that place Yemen among the worst affected in the world. We are trying to respond in one of the most challenging environments in the world today. As Special Envoy Grundberg said, 73 of our United Nations colleagues remain arbitrarily detained by the Houthi de facto authorities, with no or very limited communication with their families. Many of our assets have been seized, and our access is severely restricted. Faced with this reality, we have been forced to reassess our operations in areas held by the de facto authorities. Humanitarian operations continue, and I here pay tribute to our non-governmental organization partners, working with such courage and determination. But change is needed — we need the Council’s support to secure the humanitarian access that is desperately needed. It is over this grim reality that the most recent, still unresolved, regional escalation looms large. Prices are rising sharply — cooking gas has risen by 26 per cent, while fuel prices have increased by 20 per cent. In a country that imports almost everything, this matters: 90 per cent of wheat is brought in from abroad, and milling it requires fuel, which is also imported. We are also seeing wider supply chain disruptions across the region, making supply routes more costly and less predictable, and slowing down what remains of our operations. We cannot allow this catastrophe to continue. Our 2026 humanitarian needs and response plan seeks $2.16 billion to deliver life-saving assistance to 12 million people. It is a blueprint to avert a far deeper catastrophe. But right now, the gap between the resources we have and the soaring humanitarian needs is widening. The 2025 appeal was only 29 per cent funded — one of the biggest shortfalls in a decade. I will close by reiterating our most urgent requests of the Council. First, I ask the Council to use its influence to secure the release of our detained United Nations colleagues, as well as the dozens of current and former staff from nongovernmental organizations, civil society and the diplomatic community. I ask for urgent action to ensure that we can carry out our work safely and without impediment for the benefit of those who most urgently need our support. Secondly, I ask the Council to fund the response now. Thirdly, I ask members to support the Special Envoy’s efforts to achieve peace. Without it, this cycle of death, disease and deprivation will continue.

I thank Ms. Wosornu for her briefing. I shall now give the floor to those members of the Council who wish to make statements.

I would like to thank Special Envoy Grundberg and Ms. Wosornu for their sobering briefings and continued determined efforts in such challenging circumstances. I would like to begin by welcoming efforts to build upon the ceasefire we have seen, over the past week, between Iran and the United States of America. We thank Pakistan and all partners involved for facilitating this important step towards establishing stability in the region and working towards a return to freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. However, recent Houthi attacks against Israel threaten to further destabilize the region and undermine Yemen’s security. We urge the Houthis against resuming these unacceptable attacks and to refrain from dragging Yemen into the broader conflict. After years of instability and economic hardship, the Yemeni people deserve a peaceful and secure future. To that end, I commend the strong start made by the new Government of Yemen since its formation in February. Early progress on reform sends an important signal of commitment to improving governance and economic stability. We encourage the Government to sustain this momentum to deliver tangible benefits to the Yemeni people and to help to create the conditions for durable peace and stability. The recent publication, in March, of the 2026 Yemen humanitarian needs and response plan, highlights the deteriorating humanitarian situation: 22 million people in need of assistance, with 18.3 million who are acutely food insecure. Conflict, economic deterioration and the impacts of flooding and drought are pushing more communities towards emergency levels of hunger. Without urgent, sustained funding, conditions will worsen further, putting lives at risk. We need to act now, and together, to address those urgent needs. On the critical issue of weapons smuggling, the United Kingdom was pleased to convene members of the Council and other affected States last month for an expert briefing on arms smuggling networks utilized by the Houthis, in breach of resolution 2254 (2015). We look forward to the forthcoming reporting of the Panel of Experts on Yemen, on dual-use components and maritime interdictions. The United Kingdom will continue to support the vital work of the Panel to sustain momentum in countering Houthi weapons smuggling. Finally, the United Kingdom continues to strongly condemn the ongoing detention of aid workers, and we once again call for their immediate release. Such actions by the Houthis violate fundamental rights and due process and shrink the operational space for international non-governmental organizations that is vital to support the growing needs of the Yemeni people.

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the three African members of the Security Council (A3), namely, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Liberia and my own country, Somalia. The A3 thanks Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and Director Edem Wosornu of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs for their comprehensive briefings. We also welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Yemen in today’s meeting. The A3 remains deeply concerned that Yemen continues to face a fragile situation marked by political uncertainty, economic deterioration and one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises. While large-scale hostilities have not returned to previous levels, recent developments underscore the continued volatility and the persistent risk of escalation. We reaffirm our full support for an inclusive, Yemeni-led, Yemeni-owned political process under the auspices of the United Nations. We commend the Special Envoy’s effort to insulate Yemen from the broader regional conflict. We underscore the importance of preserving this space for dialogue to advance a comprehensive political settlement. The A3 remains concerned about the tensions that continue to expose the fragility of existing arrangements. We further take note of the expiration on 31 March of the mandate of the United Nations Mission to Support the Hudaydah Agreement, which marks a significant transition in the Security Council’s engagement. We emphasize that the progress on the political track must be accompanied by a tangible improvement in the economic situation. The continued fragmentation of institutions and irregular salary payments are deepening hardship for millions. Addressing these economic challenges remains essential to supporting stability and strengthening public confidence. The humanitarian situation in Yemen has reached a critical breaking point. The 2026 humanitarian needs and response plan released on 18 March reports that 22.3 million people — half of the population — now require humanitarian assistance. Furthermore, 18.3 million people face acute food insecurity. We are profoundly alarmed by the funding collapse facing the humanitarian response. The current United Nations appeal for $2.16 billion follows a year in which the response plan was only 29 per cent funded, the lowest in the history of the Yemen crisis. These severe shortfalls have forced humanitarian actors to scale back or suspend critical life-saving programmes, notably in the northern areas, in which the World Food Programme’s operations have largely ceased, owing to these funding gaps and continued interference. The A3 expresses grave concern about the continued detention of United Nations humanitarian personnel. Such actions, alongside interference in aid delivery, undermine operations and aggravate civilian suffering. We reiterate our call for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained personnel and emphasize the importance of safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access. Furthermore, the A3 underscores the need to strengthen the protection of civilians, in particular children, who continue to bear the consequences of the conflict. We call on all parties to comply fully with international humanitarian law and to cooperate with the United Nations on child protection and accountability mechanisms. In conclusion, the A3 reiterates its firm support for Yemen’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity. We stress that lasting peace cannot be achieved through military means, but rather, through dialogue and sustained international engagement. We call on the international community to continue to pay close attention to Yemen and to significantly scale up financial support for humanitarian operations in order to prevent the further collapse of essential services. The people of Yemen deserve a future defined not by crisis, but by stability, dignity and opportunity.

I thank Special Envoy Grundberg and Director Wosornu for the briefings, and I welcome the Permanent Representative of Yemen to today’s meeting. Lately, the sharp escalation in the Middle East has posed new challenges to stability in Yemen and the Red Sea. The launch of the United States-Iran negotiations in Pakistan is a step in the direction of easing the tension. The pressing priority is to prevent the resumption of fighting and maintain the hard-won momentum of the ceasefire with no effort spared. The international community should continue to intensify efforts to promote peace talks and categorically oppose any act that could undermine the ceasefire or escalate confrontation. The relevant parties should strictly observe the interim ceasefire arrangements and seek to resolve disputes by political and diplomatic means. Over the past two years, amid ongoing regional turmoil, the situation in Yemen has dragged on, with fluctuations. In today’s Yemen, the parties to the conflict lack mutual trust, the peace process is stalled, the security situation remains fragile, and the humanitarian challenges are daunting. The international community should redouble its efforts to help Yemen find a comprehensive solution to break the stalemate and work together for an early settlement of the Yemen issue. First, we must resolutely advance the political process. China calls on all parties in Yemen to show political resolve, work to relaunch the peace process, resolve differences through dialogue and negotiation and strive for an early reconciliation and the launch of economic rebuilding. The international community should provide support to this end. China notes that the legitimate Government of Yemen and the Houthis held meetings on the implementation of the prisoner exchange agreement. We commend the Special Envoy’s Office for its positive role in this regard and encourage the two parties to continue communication and engagement to achieve concrete results. Secondly, every effort must be made to maintain a stable security situation. In early March, the legitimate Government of Yemen and the Houthis exchanged fire in Ta‘izz, resulting in casualties. China calls on both parties to exercise restraint and avoid any escalatory actions. The Special Envoy’s Office should exercise its role as a ceasefire monitor and engage with both parties to the conflict to prevent new clashes. It is the shared responsibility of all to safeguard the security of the Red Sea’s shipping lanes. The rights of merchant ships from all countries to navigate these waters, in accordance with international law, must be fully respected. Thirdly, the humanitarian situation requires prompt relief. The recent United Nations emergency humanitarian response plan for Yemen forecasts 22 million people in urgent need of humanitarian aid — an increase of 2.8 million from last year, reflecting a rapidly deteriorating trend. Some organizations note localized famine in their assessments. It is particularly alarming. China calls on the international community to provide more emergency humanitarian aid to Yemen and to try to secure funding for humanitarian needs in order to avert a large-scale humanitarian crisis. Fourthly, we must define the bottom line of international humanitarian law. Protecting civilians and the security of civilian infrastructure is an internationally recognized fundamental principle of international humanitarian law, and the safety and security of United Nations personnel must be effectively guaranteed. China expresses grave concern about the continued detention of 73 United Nations personnel and once again calls on the Houthis to release them immediately and unconditionally, thereby creating the conditions for humanitarian institutions to resume operations in the relevant areas. Together with the international community, China stands ready to make unrelenting efforts for the political settlement of the Yemen issue and the return of peace and stability to the Middle East at an early date.

I thank Special Envoy Grundberg and Ms. Edem Wosornu for their comprehensive briefings today. The people of Yemen continue to suffer a vast humanitarian emergency, as we have heard from the briefers. In the light of the escalating tensions in the region, it is crucial that Yemen not be further drawn into the broader conflict. Denmark strongly condemns the recent strikes by the Houthis against Israel, which also threaten greater regional destabilization, and we underscore the need to ensure maritime security and freedom of navigation to allow for the free flow of trade and goods, including humanitarian goods. We call on the Houthis to immediately cease military actions. Deescalation is also crucial to prevent further regional spillover. As we have heard, in 2026 more than 22 million people, including 11 million women and girls, will require humanitarian assistance and protection services across Yemen. Further deterioration of food insecurity is alarming, with more than 18 million people facing acute food insecurity. Millions of children are malnourished. We urge Member States to support Yemen’s humanitarian response plan to enable timely and lifesaving interventions for the people of Yemen. Rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access to those in need is crucial, and we call on the Houthis to allow and facilitate such access in accordance with their obligations under international humanitarian law. Denmark strongly condemns the Houthis’ continued detention of 73 United Nations staff, along with others from civil society and diplomatic missions, and we reiterate our demand for their immediate and unconditional release. It is critical that progress be made towards an inclusive, Yemeni-led and Yemeniowned political solution under United Nations auspices, to reach a negotiated political settlement that can sustainably end this conflict. We hope further progress can be made on the exchange of conflict-related prisoners, which could contribute to much-needed trust-building between the parties. In closing, Denmark also takes note of the closure of the United Nations Mission to Support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) on 31 March in accordance with resolution 2813 (2026), with the transfer of its residual tasks to the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen. We would like to use this opportunity to thank United Nations colleagues who served in UNMHA, and we reaffirm the importance of the United Nations continuing to support the implementation of the Hudaydah Agreement towards lasting stability in Hudaydah and in Yemen.

I thank Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Director Edem Wosornu for their insightful briefings. I welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Yemen in this meeting. In the light of today’s briefings and evolving situation on the ground, I wish to outline three key points. First, we express our profound concern about the current situation in the Middle East. We unequivocally condemn the move by the Houthis to enter the conflict by conducting direct military strikes against Israel. It risks pulling Yemen into a wider regional confrontation at a time when it is least able to handle more instability. Moreover, any escalation would not just deepen Yemen’s struggles but see hostilities spill into the Red Sea, disrupting yet another vital maritime corridor for global trade and energy flows and humanitarian flows in particular. The hostilities must come to an immediate halt. We call on all actors to exercise utmost restraint and focus on de-escalation and dialogue. Secondly, amid regional turmoil, the recently published 2026 humanitarian needs and response plan for Yemen paints an increasingly alarming picture. The number of people in need has risen from approximately 19.5 million in 2025 to more than 22 million in 2026. And we heard the very grim reality just described by Ms. Wosornu. While the European Union remains the leading donor, including in 2026, urgent additional international financing is needed to avoid a repeat of last year’s critically underfunded response. Notably, this plan was developed before the latest escalation in the Middle East and does not yet account for the economic shocks from disrupted maritime routes nor from the Houthis ramping up hostilities. These are factors that stretch supply chains and will likely exacerbate an already devastating humanitarian emergency even further. Ongoing floods add to the devastation, displacing the population, damaging vital infrastructure and heightening the urgency of humanitarian aid. We again strongly condemn the continued detention of 73 United Nations and humanitarian personnel, which is unacceptable under all circumstances. Moreover, each additional day of detention undermines critical relief operations. We call, yet again, for their immediate and unconditional release and stress the obligation of all parties to ensure the safety and security of, and unimpeded access for, humanitarian workers. Thirdly, we would like to acknowledge the ongoing efforts by the Government of Yemen to stabilize governance amid extraordinarily difficult circumstances. In this regard, Latvia welcomes the recent statement by the International Monetary Fund’s Executive Board issued following resumed Article IV consultations with Yemen, which recognized that the Government’s steps and commitment have contributed to stabilizing the economy and enabling the delivery of essential public services. As significant downside risks remain, we encourage the continuation of these policies. It also remains important to continue efforts to stabilize the situation in the southern governorates and advance towards a sustained and inclusive dialogue in the south of Yemen. Likewise, we encourage all diplomatic initiatives for a comprehensive and inclusive political process involving all relevant parties across Yemen and the full and meaningful participation of women under the auspices of the United Nations. Latvia reiterates its strong and unwavering support for the Special Envoy’s indispensable mediation efforts, now also enhanced by the core tasks of the United Nations Mission to Support the Hudaydah Agreement. In conclusion, let me underscore that amid the regional escalation, all Yemeni parties must maintain momentum in advancing political dialogue and focus on urgent domestic priorities. No actor must impede this path. Yemenis’ lives, dignity and aspirations must remain central to every decision.

I thank Special Envoy Hans Grunberg and Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Director Edem Wosornu for their comprehensive briefings. I appreciate the sustained efforts of the Special Envoy in advancing stability and supporting a peaceful resolution in Yemen. The situation in Yemen remains deeply concerning and continues to demand sustained international attention. Despite ongoing engagement by the United Nations, the political process continues to face persistent challenges. There is genuine expectation that efforts towards a comprehensive settlement must deliver tangible progress, while also carefully accounting for the evolving realities on the ground. Unfortunately, Yemen’s internal dynamics further complicate the peace process. The Presidential Leadership Council is the internationally recognized and legitimate authority. However, the presence of competing actors with divergent political agendas, particularly in the south, continues to undermine unity and hinder efforts to establish a coherent national framework. This fragmentation risks weakening State institutions and obstructing progress towards a comprehensive political settlement. In this context, it is essential that all parties and Yemeni stakeholders demonstrate renewed political will, engage constructively with the Special Envoy and participate in an inclusive, United Nations-facilitated, Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process. Such a process must move beyond incremental measures and preserve the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen, while reflecting the legitimate aspirations of the Yemeni people. At the same time, developments in Yemen cannot be viewed in isolation from the evolving regional security environment. Yemen must not be adversely affected or drawn into a regional conflict. It is also important to stress that attacks targeting maritime routes are unacceptable, as they disrupt global trade flows, heighten risks to energy and food supply chains and will accentuate the growing regionalization of the conflict. The free and unimpeded flow of commercial shipping through Bab al-Mandab must not be impeded. The risk of Yemen becoming further entangled in wider regional confrontation, including through the involvement of non-State actors, must be avoided. It is therefore essential that all parties exercise the utmost restraint, refrain from actions that could escalate tensions and fully comply with their obligations under international law. The humanitarian situation remains dire and requires urgent, coordinated and sustained action. According to OCHA’s 2026 humanitarian needs and response plan, 22.3 million people require humanitarian assistance and protection, while 18.3 million face acute food insecurity, and another 19.3 million need access to essential health services. This is a serious humanitarian crisis. In this regard, it is incumbent upon international donors to urgently increase predictable and flexible humanitarian funding, upon all parties on the ground to ensure safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access and upon the United Nations and OCHA to continue coordinating and delivering assistance effectively to those most in need. Without these coordinated, collective and concrete steps, the humanitarian situation risks further deterioration. Pakistan reiterates its strong condemnation of the continued arbitrary detention of United Nations humanitarian personnel and diplomatic staff and the unlawful seizure of United Nations premises and assets in areas under Houthi control. These actions contravene international law and undermine humanitarian work. We call for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained personnel and for full respect for the privileges and immunities of United Nations personnel, facilities and assets. Sustained engagement remains fundamental to advancing the goal of a comprehensive political settlement supported by a stable regional environment and complemented by robust humanitarian assistance. That is the only viable path forward. The Security Council must continue to play a constructive and unified role in advancing these efforts, with a clear focus on peace, stability and the well-being of the Yemeni people.

We thank the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, and the Director of the Crisis Response Division of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Edem Wosornu, for their valuable contributions. We warmly welcome to this meeting the representative of Yemen, who honours us with his participation. More than a decade of conflict has left Yemen with severe humanitarian needs and widespread displacement. According to the International Organization for Migration, in 2026, more than 22.3 million Yemenis are in need of humanitarian assistance, including 10.95 million women and girls, among whom 1.3 million are pregnant and breastfeeding women who require specific support in terms of protection and essential services. Over the past year, our appeals and support for the Special Envoy, Hans Grundberg, have focused on his efforts to secure the release of arbitrarily detained humanitarian workers. We are grateful for his efforts and reiterate our support. However, unfortunately, less than a week ago, we saw this number of detainees rise to 73, including representatives of the United Nations and national and international non-governmental organizations, as well as members of civil society and the diplomatic corps. These despicable acts by the Houthis are hampering the Organization’s efforts to support communities throughout Yemen, promote peace, prevent further escalation of the conflict and defend the rights of all Yemenis, who remain trapped in a situation of ongoing violence. The Houthis’ absurd attempt to use the conflict in the Middle East is proof of the selfish way in which this group operates, as it is willing to sacrifice the peace and common well-being of Yemenis to try to gain prominence. The military actions that have spread throughout the Middle East are, of course, already having direct consequences that are starting to be felt in all countries in the region. Yemen is no exception. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has led to a rise in energy prices, with impacts that extend beyond regional borders. We therefore reiterate our firm and unwavering position that no critical maritime route should be threatened or used as a tool for pressure or blackmail. Neither the Red Sea nor the Strait of Hormuz nor any other strategic route should be put at risk or closed. Maritime security constitutes one of the fundamental pillars of global economic stability. For all these reasons, we underscore the need for the Security Council to maintain constant vigilance over developments in Yemen. We also urge the Government of Yemen to continue the Southern Dialogue as a key mechanism for promoting inclusion, strengthening political dialogue and advancing national reconciliation. Only through a participatory, inclusive and sustained process will it be possible to consolidate a lasting peace.

We would like to thank the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, and Edem Wosornu for their briefings. The Yemeni settlement process has been stagnant for several years now, and the latest United States-Israeli aggression against Iran has introduced new, unpredictable variables into it. Unfortunately, the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement has also been drawn into the large-scale escalation in the wider Middle East provoked by Washington and West Jerusalem, which has created risks of the prospects for normalization receding even further. Against the backdrop of regional turbulence, there are no signs of a resumption of active work on the road map for a settlement in Yemen, which began more than two years ago but has yet to yield tangible results. The lack of progress in the peace process and the growing mistrust between the Yemeni protagonists is, in turn, leading to a gradual deterioration of the military situation along the line of contact. All this creates risks of a resumption of the active phase of the civil war. We believe that the primary task of the Security Council members regarding Yemen is to do everything they can to achieve the earliest possible normalization of the situation in the country. Current events clearly confirm this. We must do our utmost to help the parties to the conflict, including the Ansar Allah movement, to find common ground and reach compromises. In doing so, it is important to encourage the parties to renounce mutual hostility and mistrust. Small steps towards one another, such as the exchange of prisoners of war, can also contribute to this. The aforementioned road map remains the optimal basis for a comprehensive and long-term settlement in Yemen; an updated version of this should be signed by all Yemeni stakeholders as soon as possible. In this regard, we support the Special Envoy’s efforts and call for the continued integration of this and other tracks into a sustainable framework for mediation efforts. For our part, we stand ready to continue providing all possible assistance. Furthermore, we will continue our constructive cooperation with the official Yemeni authorities and influential political forces in the country, including Ansar Allah, as well as with our friends and partners in the region. We call on other members of the international community to follow suit. We caution them against attempts to antagonize or isolate any of the Yemeni parties, including the Houthis. The latter are an integral part of the Yemeni political landscape, and without their involvement, a settlement is doomed to failure. The deteriorating humanitarian situation in Yemen also calls for immediate action. Almost half the population — nearly 20 million people — are in need of some form of humanitarian assistance. There are grave problems related to food security, drinking water, medicine and access to medical institutions plaguing the country. A large share of those in need are internally displaced persons. We see a glaring, chronic underfinancing of specialized humanitarian programmes. The situation is further escalated by the forced reduction of humanitarian coverage by United Nations agencies, owing to the unresolved issues related to the humanitarian personnel that have been detained by the Houthis. Presently, the lion’s share of deliveries of assistance to the Yemeni people is being shouldered by non-governmental structures that remain present in regions under Ansar Allah control. However, these organizations, by definition, do not possess the resources available to the United Nations. Under these circumstances, it is important that the architecture for humanitarian assistance in that country remain unchanged. There is a need to ensure sustained access in order to preserve the space for humanitarian activity and to raise the level of protection for humanitarian personnel. We reaffirm the importance of giving priority to preserving the United Nations presence throughout the country. To conclude, we reaffirm our commitment to Yemen’s unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.

I would like to thank the President for convening this briefing, as well as the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, and the Director of the Crisis Response Division at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Ms. Edem Wosornu, for their briefings. I welcome the delegations here with us today. Colombia reaffirms its full support for the Special Envoy’s good offices and for the humanitarian work carried out by the United Nations system in Yemen. My country also reaffirms its support for a broad and inclusive political process that guarantees Yemen’s unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, while at the same time alleviating the suffering of the civilian population, particularly in a regional context marked by growing tensions and the risk of escalation. My delegation is closely monitoring the complex set of challenges facing Yemen today. In addition to persistent internal tensions, including institutional fragility and recent incidents in the south of the country, there is a real risk that the country could be drawn into a wider regional conflict. In this context, it is essential to prevent the conflict from escalating and to safeguard the progress that has been made. Colombia echoes the Special Envoy’s emphasis on the need to revive a political process that reflects the current realities in Yemen and delivers tangible results. Within this framework, my country considers it essential to adopt a comprehensive approach that coherently integrates the political, economic and security dimensions, with a view to building trust between the parties and laying solid foundations for a sustainable peace. From a humanitarian perspective, the situation remains alarming. Of particular concern is the arbitrary detention of United Nations and humanitarian organization staff, as well as the suspension or scaling back of essential operations. Ultimately, this has a direct and negative impact on the provision of vital services. Colombia therefore reiterates its call for the immediate and unconditional release of all humanitarian and United Nations personnel currently detained, while calling for a guarantee of safe, sustained and unimpeded access, in accordance with international humanitarian law. Our consistent and sustained support helps to create conditions conducive to lasting peace. Convinced of this, Colombia reaffirms its commitment to continuing to support the efforts of the United Nations and the international community aimed at stabilizing Yemen.

I would like to thank Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Director Edem Wosornu for their insightful briefings. I also welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Yemen in this meeting. I would like to make the following points. First, Yemen remains at the edge of plunging deeper into a protracted security and humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by regional instability and severe humanitarian and socioeconomic repercussions deriving from a prolonged conflict. The Houthis’ arbitrary decision to engage militarily against Israel, with the launch of ballistic missile and drone attacks on the Tel Aviv area, is both deplorable and condemnable. It is imperative to safeguard Yemen from any further escalation that risks dragging the country into a regional conflict, thereby profoundly endangering its prospects for stability, peace and humanitarian recovery. Secondly, the unimpeded passage of commercial and merchant vessels must be always safeguarded, thereby keeping international maritime trade routes continuously open and safe. Freedom of navigation and maritime security in the Red Sea region remain critical, all the more so in the light of prolonged disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The Houthis’ persistent threats of imminent attacks against international commercial vessels transiting the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea further aggravate an already fragile security environment, placing international shipping, global energy and food supply chains, as well as international trade stability, at considerable risk. The European Union Naval Operation ASPIDES, within its defensive mandate, plays a crucial role in safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Red Sea region and ensuring the protection of international shipping. Greece will continue to actively support the Operation and its objectives. Thirdly, the resumption of peace negotiations aimed at the permanent and viable peaceful resolution of the Yemeni conflict is vital and long overdue. There is no substitute for negotiation efforts for achieving a lasting and enduring peace through an inclusive Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process, under the auspices of the United Nations, with full respect for the country’s unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. In this context, we reiterate our unwavering support for Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and for his enduring efforts to revitalize the peace process. Fourthly, ensuring a safe and enabling humanitarian environment remains of high priority. We reiterate our strong call for the immediate and unconditional release of all United Nations personnel, humanitarian workers of non-governmental organizations and diplomatic mission staff who continue to be arbitrarily detained by the Houthis. The protection of United Nations personnel and the inviolability of United Nations premises must be upheld at all times, in accordance with international law. Lastly, we further welcome the 2026 Yemen humanitarian needs and response plan, which provides a focused and prioritized framework for delivering life-saving assistance and essential protection services to all Yemenis in need. Sustained and predictable financial support remains of the essence in addressing the scale and urgency of the humanitarian crisis.

I thank our briefers. The Houthis escalated their destabilizing activity in the region by launching missile and drone attacks against Israel on at least six occasions, most recently on 4 April. They have made common cause with the Islamic Republic of Iran and acted in support of its violations of international law. The Houthis’ willingness to drag Yemen into conflict for the sake of its benefactors in Tehran is the latest demonstration of their total disregard for the people of Yemen. Inside Yemen, the Houthis continue to detain, attack and terrorize their fellow Yemenis. On 16 March, the Houthis launched a missile strike against Yemeni families gathered after an iftar meal, killing 10 people, including six children. This was preceded by the forced disappearance of several Sunni Imams, part of a larger pattern of Houthi repression of Sunni religious practices. Moreover, the Houthis have unjustly detained more than 70 United Nations staff, along with humanitarian workers and other staff of civil society organizations and diplomatic missions, including the United States mission. We call for their immediate and unconditional release. The Iranian regime has long enabled the Houthis’ destabilizing activities through the supply of arms and related materiel and logistical and intelligence support. This is in clear defiance of the Council’s resolutions. We call on all vessels bound for Houthi-controlled ports to comply with the requirements of the United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism, as the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Yemen has reiterated to international shipping companies and port authorities. Resolution 2817 (2026) represented the international community’s consensus that we cannot sit idly by as the Iranian regime and its proxies and partners undermine regional and international stability. All Member States must abide by resolutions to deprive the Houthis of the resources needed for their destabilizing activities.

At the outset, I would like to thank the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, Mr. Hans Grundberg, and the Director of the Operations and Advocacy Division of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Ms. Edem Wosornu, for their briefings. I also welcome the presence among us of the Permanent Representative of Yemen. First of all, France condemns in the strongest terms the missile attacks launched by the Houthis against Israel in recent days. These attacks serve to fuel regional escalation. France calls for maximum restraint and for an immediate halt to all military action in order to prevent any further spread of the conflict. Moreover, France reaffirms its unwavering commitment to maritime security and freedom of navigation. In this regard, it will continue its engagement within the framework of the European Union’s common security and defence policy, the European Union Naval Force and its Operation Aspides, in compliance with international law and in conjunction with its European and international partners. Secondly, France demands the immediate and unconditional release of all personnel of the United Nations, non-governmental organizations and diplomatic missions arbitrarily detained by the Houthis. These detentions, which violate international law, have gone on for far too long. As we reiterated less than a week ago (see S/PV.10131), attacks against humanitarian personnel are unacceptable, and resolution 2730 (2024) must be respected. These acts hinder the delivery of humanitarian aid, which the Yemeni population desperately needs, at a time when the situation continues to deteriorate. The most recent United Nations assessment is unequivocal: compared to 2025, an additional 2.8 million people are now in need of humanitarian assistance. Women and children are particularly vulnerable. Thirdly, France reaffirms its commitment to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Yemen. France supports Government-led efforts to consolidate the Yemeni State and reiterates its support for the new Government, which must be able to work to stabilize the country and meet the Yemeni people’s basic needs. France will continue to act in support of the legitimate authorities, for the benefit of the population. France also supports the prospect of holding an inclusive dialogue in Saudi Arabia aimed at resolving the issue of southern Yemen, as announced earlier this year by President Al-Alimi. Finally, France reaffirms its full support for the work of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General, whose efforts are essential. France calls upon all Yemeni parties to engage in good faith in efforts to resume a political process under United Nations auspices, the only path that can lead to the establishment of lasting peace in Yemen.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Bahrain. (spoke in Arabic) I would like to thank Mr. Hans Grundberg, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General Special Envoy for Yemen, and Ms. Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), for their valuable briefings. I also welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of the fraternal Republic of Yemen, His Excellency Ambassador Abdullah Al-Saadi. During this critical period for the Arabian Gulf region, which is facing significant security and economic challenges, the imperative of preserving Yemen’s stability takes on particular importance. It is therefore necessary to shield Yemen from the repercussions of these tensions, preventing its entanglement in regional conflicts that would only complicate its crisis and prolong the suffering of its people, and to prevent its territory from being turned into a platform for advancing Iranian agendas. Such measures are essential to propel the political process forward towards a comprehensive and sustainable solution that fulfils the aspirations of the fraternal Yemeni people for security, stability and development. In this context, the Kingdom of Bahrain wishes to emphasize the following points. First, we reaffirm our full support for the Presidential Leadership Council led by His Excellency Mr. Rashad Mohammed Al-Alimi and for the Yemeni Government’s efforts to advance development and reconstruction, maintain security and stability and achieve a comprehensive political settlement, in line with the Initiative of the Gulf Cooperation Council and its implementation mechanism, the outcomes of the comprehensive National Dialogue Conference and resolution 2216 (2015), with the aim of safeguarding the sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and independence of our fraternal nation of Yemen. We also renew our support for the efforts of the United Nations and its Special Envoy for Yemen, Mr. Hans Grundberg, to bring about a comprehensive political solution that meets the Yemeni people’s aspirations for security, stability and prosperity. Secondly, amid the continued dire humanitarian conditions and the acute deterioration of food security in Yemen, the Houthi militias continue to threaten to drag Yemen into military adventures and regional conflicts, including their threat to close the Bab al-Mandab Strait, heedless of the repercussions that doing so would have on Yemen, the region and the global economy, thereby deepening Yemen’s subservience to external axes. This threat is linked to broader attempts to impose a reality that restricts freedom of navigation in vital maritime corridors and thereby to exert economic pressure on the international community, in the context of the closure imposed by Iran on the Strait of Hormuz, in flagrant violation of international law and the relevant Security Council resolutions, including resolutions 552 (1984) and 2817 (2026). My country also affirms the importance of safeguarding the security of maritime navigation and freedom of transit in vital waterways, in particular in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and rejects any threats that compromise the safety of international navigation or that may destabilize regional security. In this context, the Kingdom of Bahrain emphasizes that any disruption along these vital corridors would undermine humanitarian response efforts, adversely affect regional security and stability and harm global trade and energy, food and medicine supplies. My country also reiterates its condemnation of the Houthi militias’ continued arbitrary detention of United Nations personnel, diplomatic mission staff and employees of non-governmental organizations and demands their immediate and unconditional release, in accordance with resolution 2813 (2026). Thirdly, my country stresses the importance of reaching a comprehensive political settlement in Yemen that ends the crisis there in a sustainable manner and preserves its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, in accordance with the internationally recognized terms of reference and the relevant Council resolutions. (spoke in English) I resume my functions as President of the Council. I now give the floor to the representative of Yemen.

Allow me, my dear brother Ambassador Jamal Alrowaiei, to congratulate you and your brotherly country, the Kingdom of Bahrain, on assuming the presidency of the Council for this month. You, Sir, have my sincere wishes for success in carrying out your tasks. I thank your predecessor, the Permanent Representative of the friendly United States of America, for its successful presidency last month. I thank Mr. Hans Grundberg and Ms. Edem Wosornu for their briefings. Our meeting is being held today in the light of extremely complex developments in the region and against the background of flagrant and unjustified Iranian attacks against Gulf Cooperation Council countries and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in blatant violation of the rules of international law and the principles of good neighbourliness. This behaviour reflects the Iranian regime’s insistence on exporting crises, sowing chaos and undermining security and stability in the region. The Yemeni Government reiterates its categorical rejection and strong condemnation of these attacks and others being perpetrated via the Iranian regime’s proxies and affiliated militias. It warns against the Iranian regime’s continued interference in the internal affairs of Yemen by supporting, arming and financing the terrorist Houthi militias and encouraging them to engage in regional conflicts that serve Iran’s interests and agenda, with the goal of undermining the institutions of States, depriving them of sovereign selfdetermination and turning them into platforms for extortion, thereby threatening international peace and security. The involvement of the Houthi militias in defending the Iranian regime clearly reflects the close connection between these terrorist militias and the subversive Iranian project in the region. Since their coup against constitutional legitimacy and the aspirations of the Yemeni people, the Houthi militias have persisted in opening successive war fronts, turning Yemen into an arena for regional conflict in implementation of the Iranian regime’s agenda, and fabricating crises that have ruined the chances of peace. They have continued to try to impose their control and prolong the conflict without any regard for Yemen’s interests, security and stability. Recent developments confirm that the continued possession by the Houthi militias of military weapons and technology is a fundamental challenge to any future political process. It undermines the foundations of State-building and threatens security and stability in Yemen and the region. The Yemeni Government stresses that any future political process must be based on restoring State institutions, restricting weapons to the hands of the State and ending all manifestations of armed rebellion to ensure the building of a political system based on national partnership, respect for the Constitution and the rule of law. That requires a proactive international position that supports the Yemeni Government and enables it to extend its authority over all its national soil, puts an end to Iranian intervention and increases the chances of reaching a just and comprehensive political solution in accordance with the agreed terms of reference for a political solution, foremost among them resolution 2216 (2015). On the issue of the exchange of prisoners and those detained in connection with the conflict, we highly appreciate the United Nations-led efforts on this important humanitarian track. We reiterate that the Yemeni Government is committed to its success. It is firmly committed to ending the suffering of thousands of Yemeni prisoners. It hopes for speedy implementation of what has been agreed upon, full implementation of the prisoner exchange agreement and release of all detainees and abductees in line with the principle of “all in exchange for all” without restrictions or conditions, as provided for by the Stockholm Agreement (S/2018/1134, annex). We hope that this important step will represent an opening for closing this humanitarian file and a basis for building the trust necessary for any comprehensive peace process in Yemen. In that connection, we warn the Houthi militias against taking any legal measures through their illegitimate courts regarding the dozens of abductees, who include staff of United Nations agencies, international non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and diplomatic missions, in flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and in direct defiance of calls from the Council. We reiterate our call for their immediate and unconditional release. The Yemeni Government continues to build on what has been achieved with recovery plans; economic, financial and administrative reforms; support for the independence of the Central Bank; protection for the national currency; the creation of effective institutions; the strengthening of the rule of law and order; the strengthening of oversight bodies; and the provision of basic services to citizens. In that connection, a draft budget has been approved for the first time in years. That represents a major step towards restoration and normalization of the work of the institutions of the State and the exercise of one of its main sovereign functions, which is sound management of public resources and the definition of spending priorities and a responsible national vision based on the principles of discipline and transparency. In parallel, the Yemeni Government has approved a draft programme and priorities for the year 2026, which focuses on strategic priorities that include strengthening the principles of governance and transparency; operationalizing an oversight system; consolidating political and security stability; sustainable economic recovery; extending the sovereignty of the State and the law; maintaining sustainable basic services and ensuring fair access to them; strengthening institutional governance, digital transformation and social cohesion; and enabling human capital. In that connection, we value the fraternal role and the support provided by the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. That includes support for the public budget, which constitutes a key pillar that enhances the steadfastness of the institution of the State. It has contributed directly to enabling the State to continue to perform its duties and maintain economic and financial stability during a very complex stage. The Yemeni Government reiterates that urgent support from Yemen’s development partners and donor organizations and funds under these difficult circumstances is a decisive factor in realizing economic stability, strengthening opportunities for recovery and development, and alleviating the human suffering generated by the Houthi militias’ war and their systematic destruction of the foundations and capacities of Yemeni people. The Yemeni Government affirms its commitment to continuing close coordination with donors and international partners to develop and expand support mechanisms in a way that enhances effective partnership with the international community, serves the path of economic recovery and alleviates the humanitarian crisis.

There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. I now invite Council members to informal consultations to continue our discussion on the subject.