Latest news with #HansGrundberg
Yemen Online
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yemen Online
UN Renews Call for De-escalation Between Israel & Houthis Amid Rising Tensions in Yemen
The United Nations has once again urged all parties to exercise restraint and avoid further escalation following renewed hostilities between Israeli forces and Yemen's Houthi movement. The appeal comes in the wake of Israeli airstrikes targeting Sana'a International Airport and key Red Sea ports, and retaliatory missile launches by the Houthis aimed at Israeli territory. UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric condemned attacks on civilian infrastructure, stating that strikes on airports and ports 'deprive Yemenis of vital access to medical care, education, and religious travel,' especially as thousands prepare for the Hajj pilgrimage. He emphasized that both sides must uphold international humanitarian law and protect civilian lives and facilities. The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, recently concluded meetings in Muscat with regional officials and Houthi representatives, stressing the need to translate ceasefire agreements into lasting peace. He also called for the immediate release of UN and NGO personnel arbitrarily detained by Houthi authorities, warning that such actions undermine humanitarian operations across Yemen. Security Council members echoed the UN's concerns, with several delegations condemning Houthi attacks on commercial shipping and Israeli airstrikes on civilian targets. The Council urged both parties to return to dialogue and avoid dragging Yemen deeper into regional conflicts. The UN continues to advocate for a comprehensive political solution to the Yemeni crisis, warning that 'every day without progress prolongs the suffering of millions' amid rising food insecurity and deteriorating public services.
Yemen Online
17-07-2025
- Business
- Yemen Online
UN Envoy: Houthi Currency Issuance Violates Yemen's Economic De-escalation Agreement
The United Nations Special Envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, has condemned the Houthi group's recent issuance of new currency as a violation of the economic de-escalation understandings reached between Yemeni parties in July 2024. In a statement released Thursday, Grundberg expressed deep concern over the Houthis' unilateral decision to mint 50-rial coins and print 200-rial banknotes, warning that such actions threaten to undermine Yemen's fragile economy and deepen institutional and monetary divisions. 'These unilateral measures are not a viable solution to liquidity challenges,' Grundberg said. 'They risk eroding trust, destabilizing financial frameworks, and complicating efforts to restore economic stability.' The envoy urged all parties to refrain from unilateral steps and instead pursue coordinated approaches that foster dialogue and support broader stabilization efforts. He emphasized the need to prioritize restoring confidence, strengthening institutions, and delivering tangible relief to the Yemeni population. The currency issuance comes despite a UN-mediated agreement in 2024 that called for halting all economic escalations and maintaining neutrality in financial policy as part of a broader roadmap for de-escalation.
Yemen Online
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Yemen Online
Yemeni Gov't Foils Houthi Plot to Assassinate UN Envoy to Yemen
Aden — Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council has revealed the disruption of a Houthi-linked assassination plot targeting UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg, in what officials describe as a grave attempt to destabilize liberated regions and undermine international confidence in the Yemeni government. The announcement was made by Chairman Rashad Al-Alimi during a meeting with European Union ambassadors in Aden. Al-Alimi stated that the cell behind the plot was uncovered in recent weeks and is believed to be responsible for a string of high-profile assassinations, including the killing of World Food Programme employee Moayad Hamidi in Taiz, as well as attacks on journalists, activists, and military leaders. Security sources say the cell operated under the direction of Amjad Khaled, a former military commander allegedly tied to senior Houthi figures. The group reportedly coordinated with extremist networks to carry out targeted killings and spread chaos in government-controlled areas. Neither the UN nor Grundberg has issued an official response to the allegations. However, the news has sparked concern among diplomatic circles, especially given the UN envoy's central role in facilitating peace negotiations and humanitarian efforts in Yemen.
Yemen Online
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Yemen Online
Security Council Extends Yemen Mission Mandate to 2026
Aden — The United Nations Security Council has voted to extend the mandate of the United Nations Mission to Support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) for an additional six and a half months, pushing its expiration to January 28, 2026. The resolution, drafted by the United Kingdom, reaffirms the Council's commitment to stabilizing Yemen's fragile ceasefire and supporting humanitarian access through the strategic Red Sea port city of Hudaydah. The vote comes at a time of heightened regional instability, with recent Israeli airstrikes on Houthi-controlled infrastructure and renewed missile launches from Yemen threatening maritime security in the Red Sea. UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg warned that Yemen risks being pulled deeper into regional conflicts, urging all parties to uphold the ceasefire and avoid actions that could derail peace efforts. The renewed mandate enables UNMHA to continue monitoring the Hudaydah ceasefire, facilitating de-escalation, and supporting dialogue between Yemeni factions. Council members emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum toward a nationwide political settlement, especially as Omani-mediated talks between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia show signs of progress. The resolution also underscores the need for unimpeded humanitarian access, with over 21 million Yemenis still in need of aid. UN officials called for increased funding and protection for humanitarian workers, following recent detentions and operational suspensions in northern Yemen.
Scoop
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
Yemen: Security Council Extends UN Mission In Crucial Port City Amid Escalating Red Sea Strife
14 July 2025 Adopted unanimously, the resolution extending the UN Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) until 28 January 2026, underscores the Mission's critical role in maintaining fragile stability amid signs of renewed military escalation and deepening humanitarian need. The resolution – 2786 (2025) – reaffirms the Council's support for the 2018 Stockholm Agreement, including the ceasefire in the Houthi-controlled port city – and demilitarisation of its docks, where the majority of Yemen's imports and vital aid shipments pass through. The mission's future It also signals a growing debate over the mission's future, requesting the Secretary-General to submit a review by November to enhance coordination and coherence of UN operations, 'bearing in mind challenges' that have directly impeded UNMHA's capacity to deliver. ' The Security Council …expresses its intention to review the full range of options for UNMHA's mandate, including assessing the future viability and sunsetting of the Mission, and make any necessary adjustments to gain efficiencies and reduce costs or otherwise, as may be required to UN operations in Hudaydah by developments on the ground, including inter alia a durable nationwide ceasefire,' the resolution noted. UNMHA was established in 2019 to support implementation of the Stockholm Agreement between the Government of Yemen and Ansar Allah (as the Houthis are formally known), which sought to prevent major conflict over the region. The mission monitors the ceasefire, facilitates redeployments and supports de-escalation through liaison mechanisms between the parties. Tensions mounting While the military situation on the ground remains tenuously stable, tensions are mounting on multiple fronts. According to a letter from the Secretary-General to the 15-member Council in June, a growing number of ceasefire violations – averaging over 100 per day between June 2024 and May 2025 – highlight the fragile state of the region. Government-aligned forces fortified positions in anticipation of a possible offensive on the city, while Houthi units increased infiltration attempts and public mobilisation, including military-style youth camps in areas they control. Deadly Red Sea passage Compounding this, Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea have intensified. On 8 July, the commercial vessel Eternity C was sunk, killing several crew members and leaving others missing. This followed the sinking of the Magic Seas vessel two days earlier. In a statement, UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg condemned the attacks, calling them violations of international maritime law and warning they risked serious environmental and geopolitical fallout. He called on Ansar Allah to cease attacks that risk escalating tensions in and around Yemen. '[He urges them] to build on the cessation of hostilities with the United States in the Red Sea and to provide durable guarantees to the region and the wider international community, ensuring the safety of all those using this critical waterway,' the statement noted. Significant operational constraints Within Hudaydah itself, UNMHA faces significant constraints. The June letter by the Secretary-General details restrictions by Houthi authorities on UN patrols to the critical Red Sea ports – Hudaydah, Salif and Ras Issa. Damage from repeated airstrikes, including by the US and Israel in response to Houthi attacks, has left key port infrastructure partially inoperable, disrupting fuel, food and medical imports. With Hudaydah responsible for 70 per cent of Yemen's commercial imports and 80 per cent of humanitarian deliveries, the stakes are high. Polio vaccination drive Meanwhile, a new round of polio vaccinations is underway in Government-controlled areas of southern Yemen, amid mounting concerns over the continued spread of the virus. From 12 to 14 July, health workers deployed across 12 governorates, aimed at curbing the outbreak of variant type 2 poliovirus. The campaign, led by Yemen's Ministry of Public Health with support from UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO), came as 282 cases have been reported since 2021, with environmental surveillance confirming ongoing transmission. ' The campaign is essential to interrupt transmission and protect every child from the debilitating effects of polio,' said Ferima Coulibaly-Zerbo, acting WHO Representative in Yemen. UNICEF's Peter Hawkins echoed the urgency, warning of the 'imminent threat' to unvaccinated children if immunisation gaps persist. 'But, through vaccination, we can keep our children safe,' he said.
