\n<\/p>\n
Ambassadors were briefed by the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, who commended Oman for its efforts to achieve the agreement which came into effect on 6 May.<\/p>\n
He said the cessation of hostilities represented an important and necessary de-escalation in the Red Sea following the resumption of deadly US airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.<\/p>\n
However, recent events show that the country is still ensnared in wider regional tensions, he said, pointing to Houthi attacks on Ben Gurion Airport in Israel and Israel\u2019s subsequent strikes on Hudaydah Port, Sana\u2019a Airport, and other locations.<\/p>\n
\u201cNevertheless, the announcement of 6 May provides a welcome opportunity on which we must collectively build to refocus on resolving Yemen\u2019s conflict and advancing a Yemeni-owned peace process,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, and Yemeni Government forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, have been battling for control of the country for more than a decade.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe challenges facing Yemen are immense: from the deep and significant levels of mistrust between the parties, with some still reportedly preparing for war, to near economic collapse,\u201d Mr. Grundberg told the Council<\/p>\n
He said the UN will continue to work to bring the sides to the table to identify and agree on solutions that are acceptable to all.<\/p>\n
\u201cYemenis want to move forward \u2013 the status quo<\/em> is untenable,\u201d he insisted.\u00a0 \u201cAnd while the frontlines may currently appear relatively stable, what Yemen has now is not peace.\u201d<\/p>\n He stressed the need for continued engagement by the international community to help the Yemeni people realize their desire to build a stable, prosperous and safe country.<\/p>\n Mr. Grundberg used the briefing to again highlight the plight of personnel from the UN, international and national NGOs, civil society and diplomatic missions, who continue to be arbitrarily detained by the Houthis.<\/p>\n \u201cNot only is their detention in violation of international law, but it has also caused a significant chilling effect throughout the international community, which only has one outcome: undermining support to Yemen<\/strong>, which will sadly impact the Yemenis most in need,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He welcomed the recent release of staff members from the Dutch Embassy and international organization, saying \u201cthis demonstrates what is possible, but these releases are woefully insufficient.\u201d<\/p>\n The Special Envoy concluded his remarks by stating that Yemenis have endured over 10 years of instability, uncertainty and economic collapse.<\/p>\n Speaking directly to the population, he reiterated that \u201cI see you. I hear you. You have not been forgotten – and I won\u2019t relent in my efforts to pursue peace and stability in Yemen<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n He urged the warring parties \u201cto be courageous and choose dialogue,\u201d emphasizing that \u201cthe United Nations will not waiver in its commitment to support you in finding a negotiated settlement to this conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n A mother holds her 10-month-old girl who is suffering from stunting and malnutrition in Abyan, Yemen.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, who also briefed the Council, shared the Special Envoy\u2019s relief at the cessation of hostilities in Yemen.<\/p>\n He stressed, however, that \u201cYemen is not out of the woods\u201d as the humanitarian situation is deteriorating, with children most affected.\u202f<\/p>\n \u201cHalf of Yemen\u2019s children \u2013 or 2.3 million \u2013 are malnourished. 600,000 of them severely so,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Moreover, \u201cmalnutrition is not just about hunger,\u201d he added, as it attacks immunity, leaving children vulnerable to deadly infections like pneumonia and diarrhoea \u2013 both leading causes of child mortality in Yemen.\u202f<\/p>\n The country also has one of the worst immunisation rates in the world as only 69 per cent of children under a year old are fully immunized and 20 per cent have received no vaccinations at all.<\/p>\n As a result, diseases such as cholera and measles are rising.\u00a0 In 2024, Yemen accounted for over a third of global cholera cases and 18 per cent of related deaths, in addition to having one of the highest measles burdens globally.<\/p>\n \u201cChildren are not alone in being disproportionately impacted,\u201d said Mr. Fletcher, as malnutrition also affects 1.4 million pregnant and breastfeeding women in Yemen, placing mothers and newborns at grave risk.\u202f<\/p>\n Overall, some 9.6 million women and girls are in severe need of life-saving humanitarian support, he said.<\/p>\n He warned, however, that humanitarians \u201care running out of time and resources\u201d as their 2025 response plan for Yemen is barely nine per cent funded.<\/p>\n \u201cThese shortfalls have very real consequences,\u201d he said. \u201cNearly 400 health facilities \u2013 including 64 hospitals \u2013 will stop operating, impacting nearly seven million people.\u201d\u202f<\/p>\n Meanwhile, funding for 700 midwives is quickly running out and 20 therapeutic feeding centres and more than 2,000 therapeutic feeding programmes have already been forced to close down.\u202f<\/p>\n Mr. Fletcher made three requests to the Council, calling first for action to ensure respect for international humanitarian law, including protection of civilians as well as access to all those in need.<\/p>\n He urged ambassadors to also provide scaled-up, flexible funding to sustain critical aid operations.<\/p>\n \u201cThird, and as the Special Envoy has underlined, back efforts towards lasting peace,\u201d he concluded.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRelease detained staff<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Message to the people<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Humanitarians \u2018running out of time\u2019: Fletcher<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Childhood killers on the rise<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Appeal to the Council<\/strong><\/h2>\n