Remarks at a UN Security Council briefing on the situation in Yemen
Ambassador Jeffrey L. DeLaurentis
Deputy Representative of the United States to the United Nations
New-York, New-York
March 15, 2023
Thank you Mr President. Let me begin by joining others in expressing our condolences and support to the people of Mozambique and Malawi who were affected by the disaster of Cyclone Freddy – what appears to be a truly terrible storm.
Many thanks to Special Envoy Grundberg, Under-Secretary General Msuya and Ambassador Dautllari for their insightful news.
Last month’s pledging conference was an important step in addressing humanitarian needs in Yemen, where two-thirds of the population is in need of assistance.
Much more is needed, however, given the $3.1 billion deficit. We commend the donors who have pledged their help and call on the international community to donate generously to help raise the $4.3 billion needed to address the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
The United States remains resolute in its commitment to alleviate the suffering of millions of Yemenis. Minister Blinken announced our additional contribution of more than US$444 million to humanitarian aid in Yemen with more to come this year. This announcement brings our total humanitarian assistance since the outbreak of the conflict to over US$5.4 billion.
We fear that unless the United Nations and its partners receive additional funding, the humanitarian community will be forced to make cuts in critical programs. We cannot afford to further deteriorate the humanitarian situation or disrupt the positive environment created by the ceasefire.
We reaffirm the importance of the United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism in facilitating the flow of essential supplies, including food and fuel, to Yemen. Unfortunately, in Yemen, we are concerned by reports that the Houthis are blocking the flow of essential supplies from the south. Such threats to economic activity increase the suffering of all Yemenis and deepen the humanitarian crisis. These Houthi actions exacerbate the humanitarian and economic fallout of Houthi attacks on Yemeni ports, which deprive Yemen of hundreds of millions of dollars in resources for payrolls and services.
We are also increasingly concerned about the reduction in humanitarian access to the most vulnerable in Yemen, exacerbated by the Houthi Mahram’s requirements, which are hampering relief operations, as others have addressed today. We continue to call on the Houthis to release our imprisoned Yemeni workers who have done nothing wrong and reunite them with their families.
The United States continues to support intensive talks between the parties and hopes that they will result in an expanded Yemeni-Yemeni agreement under the auspices of the United Nations that paves the way for a durable ceasefire and an inclusive political process. This is the only way to meet Yemenis’ demands for justice, accountability and redress for human rights violations and abuses.
We welcome the Government of the Republic of Yemen’s continued support for the United Nations effort, as well as support from Saudi Arabia, Oman and other regional countries. We call on the Houthis to participate in good faith negotiations and work with the United Nations to keep Yemen on the path to peace. We hope that the recently announced deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran will contribute to efforts to find a lasting solution to the conflict in Yemen, address the ongoing flow of lethal Iranian aid to the Houthis, and ensure Iranian support for a political process in Yemen . Efforts to bring about stability in the region are to be welcomed.
Regarding sanctions, we are pleased that last month this Council renewed the mandate of the Expert Panel of the 2140 Committee and Sanctions. We would also like to thank the panel of experts for their annual report and excellent coverage of investigations into violations of the 2140 targeted arms embargo.
However, we are dismayed that arms continue to flow from Iran to the Houthis. So far this year, the United States, France and the United Kingdom have intercepted four ships carrying thousands of such weapons, in direct violation of this council’s targeted arms embargo. We remind the Member States involved in these illegal transfers that they are in violation of the resolutions of this Council and that only by ending such transfers will they give the Yemeni people the greatest possible chance of peace.
Finally, we welcome the recent announcement by the UN regarding the acquisition of a Very Large Crude Carrier onto which oil from the derelict safer tanker will be offloaded. These efforts will prevent an environmental catastrophe in the Red Sea with dramatic humanitarian and economic repercussions. We call on the UN to move this operation forward as quickly as possible and call on donors to help raise the additional $34 million needed.
Mr President, this is a hopeful moment for Yemen. We are ready to support peace. After eight long years of war, we hope that Yemen and its neighbors will choose peace and work to bring its fruits to a population that has suffered for far too long.
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