Latest news with #Yemeni-owned
Scoop
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Scoop
US-Houthi Ceasefire ‘A Welcome Opportunity' To Advance Peace Efforts In Yemen
14 May 2025 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. 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. Resolve the conflict 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's subsequent strikes on Hudaydah Port, Sana'a Airport, and other locations. 'Nevertheless, the announcement of 6 May provides a welcome opportunity on which we must collectively build to refocus on resolving Yemen's conflict and advancing a Yemeni-owned peace process,' he said. 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. 'Yemenis want to move forward' 'The 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,' Mr. Grundberg told the Council 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. 'Yemenis want to move forward – the status quo is untenable,' he insisted. 'And while the frontlines may currently appear relatively stable, what Yemen has now is not peace.' 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. Release detained staff 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. 'Not 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, which will sadly impact the Yemenis most in need,' he said. He welcomed the recent release of staff members from the Dutch Embassy and international organization, saying 'this demonstrates what is possible, but these releases are woefully insufficient.' Message to the people The Special Envoy concluded his remarks by stating that Yemenis have endured over 10 years of instability, uncertainty and economic collapse. Speaking directly to the population, he reiterated that ' I see you. I hear you. You have not been forgotten - and I won't relent in my efforts to pursue peace and stability in Yemen.' He urged the warring parties 'to be courageous and choose dialogue,' emphasizing that 'the United Nations will not waiver in its commitment to support you in finding a negotiated settlement to this conflict.' Humanitarians 'running out of time': Fletcher UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, who also briefed the Council, shared the Special Envoy's relief at the cessation of hostilities in Yemen. He stressed, however, that 'Yemen is not out of the woods' as the humanitarian situation is deteriorating, with children most affected. 'Half of Yemen's children – or 2.3 million – are malnourished. 600,000 of them severely so,' he said. Childhood killers on the rise Moreover, 'malnutrition is not just about hunger,' he added, as it attacks immunity, leaving children vulnerable to deadly infections like pneumonia and diarrhoea – both leading causes of child mortality in Yemen. 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. As a result, diseases such as cholera and measles are rising. 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. 'Children are not alone in being disproportionately impacted,' said Mr. Fletcher, as malnutrition also affects 1.4 million pregnant and breastfeeding women in Yemen, placing mothers and newborns at grave risk. Overall, some 9.6 million women and girls are in severe need of life-saving humanitarian support, he said. Appeal to the Council He warned, however, that humanitarians 'are running out of time and resources' as their 2025 response plan for Yemen is barely nine per cent funded. 'These shortfalls have very real consequences,' he said. 'Nearly 400 health facilities – including 64 hospitals – will stop operating, impacting nearly seven million people.' 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. 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. He urged ambassadors to also provide scaled-up, flexible funding to sustain critical aid operations. 'Third, and as the Special Envoy has underlined, back efforts towards lasting peace,' he concluded.
Khabar Agency
22-04-2025
- Khabar Agency
Yemeni-American Man Killed While Trying to Stop Armed Robbery at Tennessee Store
A Yemeni-American man was fatally shot while attempting to prevent an armed robbery at the store where he worked in Tennessee, marking the fourth such attack against Yemeni expatriates in the U.S. this year. According to a statement from the Memphis Police Department, Sufyan Ahmed Hazam Al-Khader was killed Sunday evening during the incident on Mississippi Boulevard in Memphis, the largest city in Tennessee. Yemeni expatriates shared the news in a Monday Facebook post, mourning his death. Surveillance footage showed the suspect leaving the store with stolen goods before Sufyan confronted him. A struggle ensued, and the assailant opened fire, shooting the victim multiple times. This is the fourth deadly crime targeting Yemeni immigrants in the U.S. since the start of 2025, adding to a growing number of killings and attempted murders in recent years. Armed criminals have repeatedly targeted Yemeni-owned stores for robberies and violent thefts.
Arab News
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Security Council condemns death of UN aid worker in Houthi detention
NEW YORK CITY: The UN Security Council on Friday strongly condemned the death of Ahmed, a World Food Programme employee, who died in Houthi captivity on Feb. 10. Council members also denounced the ongoing detention of UN staff, as well as workers from national and international nongovernmental organizations, civil society groups, and diplomatic missions. They demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees held by the Houthis and reiterated that threats against workers delivering humanitarian aid are unacceptable. The detention of aid workers by the Houthis prompted the UN on Monday to temporarily suspend all operations and programs in Yemen's Saada governorate, where six people were recently detained. Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said the decision was a response to the ongoing detention of UN staff by the Houthis, which has compromised the 'necessary security conditions and guarantees' for the continuation of UN operations in the area. It comes as the humanitarian situation in Yemen continues to deteriorate, with an estimated 19.5 million people in the war-ravaged country requiring humanitarian assistance and protection services, an increase of 1.3 million people compared with 2024. During a Security Council meeting this week, UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said that 17.1 million people in Yemen, 49 percent of the population, suffer from food insecurity and nearly as many do not have access to enough water for their basic daily needs. Council members expressed deep concern over the rapid and severe deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Yemen. They highlighted the critical need for humanitarian personnel, including UN staff, to be granted unimpeded access so that they can provide life-saving aid for civilians in need. They also expressed alarm at the growing risks to the delivery of humanitarian assistance, and called on the Houthis to uphold international humanitarian law by ensuring safe, rapid and unimpeded access for aid operations. They reaffirmed that all efforts must be made to guarantee that assistance reaches those who are most vulnerable. The Security Council underscored the fact that in the absence of a political solution to the conflict in Yemen, the humanitarian crisis in the country will continue to worsen. Members reiterated their commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen, and said they stand firm in support of the country's people. The council also renewed its support for the UN's special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, and endorsed his ongoing efforts to help reach a negotiated, inclusive, Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political settlement. This process, they added, must be grounded in the agreed references and consistent with Security Council resolutions.
