Ms. Joyce Msuya, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator – Briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Yemen, 15 October 2024

New York, 15 October 2024

As prepared for delivery

Thank you, Madam President. And thank you to Special Envoy Grundberg for his briefing and tireless efforts on behalf of the people of Yemen.

Madam President, I would like to start – once again – by demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the UN personnel, NGO staff, and members of civil society arbitrarily detained by the Houthis since June this year, as well as our UN colleagues detained since 2021 and 2023.

We categorically reject the allegations leveled against our colleagues. United Nations personnel should never be arrested or detained because of the work they do in carrying out our mandate.

As such, I echo the extreme concern expressed by the Principals of affected organizations in a statement on Saturday, 12 October, about the reported referral to “criminal prosecution” by the Houthis de facto authorities of a significant number of arbitrarily detained colleagues, including three United Nations personnel – two from UNESCO and one from the UN Human Rights Office – who were detained in 2021 and 2023.

The potential laying of “charges” against our colleagues is unacceptable.

The arbitrary detention of humanitarian personnel and the false accusations against them continue to significantly hinder our ability to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance in Yemen.

The detentions are reflective of a growing, unacceptable pattern of attacks against humanitarians across the region. Humanitarian relief personnel must be protected in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Madam President,throughout the past month, the UN has engaged in continuous diplomatic efforts with the Houthi de facto authorities and other interlocutors for the release of those arbitrarily detained, including during High-Level Week of the General Assembly.

I am thankful for the strong support we have received from Member States, including key countries in the region. Additionally, we greatly welcome the commitment by Member States and donors to continue to support humanitarian assistance across Yemen.

As of today, because of continued advocacy, we have confirmed that a majority of the detained UN staff have had contact with their families or relatives. Those requiring health care have received it.

We continue to stress that our colleagues must be treated humanely and with full respect for international humanitarian law and human rights, including in regard to judicial guarantees, as applicable.

Madam President, let me also take this opportunity to extend my condolences to the families of at least 48 migrants who recently lost their lives off the coast of Djibouti. We understand they were returning from Yemen to Djibouti when they were forced off their vessel in open sea by smugglers.

According to our colleagues at the International Organization for Migration, 57 other people who were on board remain missing. The UN is supporting authorities in Djibouti with search and rescue operations. To date, 197 people have been rescued and are receiving medical and psychosocial support.

2024 now marks the deadliest year for migrants crossing the sea between the Horn of Africa and Yemen.

This incident is a tragic reminder of the dangers faced by migrants, refugees and asylum seekers along such migration routes. Ultimately, these are challenges that require regional solutions.

Madam President, we are deeply concerned about the impacts on Yemen’s humanitarian crisis of the rapidly deteriorating situation across the Middle East.

We are very alarmed by the ongoing attacks from and on Yemen, which has damaged critical infrastructure, including energy and port infrastructure in Hodeidah and Ras Issa.

Both ports remain operational and able to receive commercial and humanitarian imports. Power stations throughout Hodeidah city are, however, running at very limited capacity. In response, the UN is providing support to health facilities to ensure the continuation of essential services.

We recall that all parties must respect their obligations under international law and reiterate the Secretary-General’s calls for utmost restraint and for all concerned to avoid attacks that could harm civilians and damage civilian infrastructure.

Infrastructure that is indispensable to the survival of the population must be spared. Yemen’s Red Sea ports are lifelines for millions of people across the country – it is paramount that they remain open and operational.

Madam President, against a backdrop of regional escalation, the humanitarian situation in Yemen continues to worsen, both in scale and severity.

Hunger continues to rise. In August, the number of people who do not have enough food to eat soared to unprecedented levels. And severe levels of food deprivation have doubled in areas controlled by the Houthi de facto authorities since last year.

Cholera also continues to spread. Since March this year, more than 203,000 suspected cases have been reported and more than 720 people have lost their lives. Women and girls account for 53 per cent of cases.

Partners expect cases to double between now and March 2025. The humanitarian community remains determined to deliver at scale for the 18.2 million people in need.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Member States and the donor community for their ongoing generous support for the humanitarian response in Yemen.

Currently, the humanitarian appeal for Yemen is 41 per cent funded. However, critical response sectors need urgent additional funding. The food security sector quickly needs an additional US$870 million. Without this, an estimated 9 million people across Yemen will not receive emergency food aid in the last quarter of 2024.

Women and children, IDPs and other marginalized groups, will bear the brunt of the resultant spread of hunger, including heightened protection risks and long-term health consequences.

Funding for the cholera response has already run out. Health partners have been forced to close 21 out of 75 Diarrhea Treatment Centres and 97 out of 423 Oral Rehydration Centres. It is estimated that 70 per cent of the remaining Diarrhea Treatment Centres and 42 per cent of the remaining Oral Rehydration Centres will close by December if urgent funding is not received.

Long-term funding for gender-based violence programmes is also a critical requirement. This is a sector that remains chronically underfunded, with deep lasting impacts on women and girls’ safety, dignity and mental health.

Madam President, for too long, civilians in Yemen have suffered because of factors beyond their control. They have endured a devastating decade-long conflict, which has upended livelihoods, decimated Yemen’s economy, and driven millions of people into poverty and despair.

Now, like many in the Middle East, their hopes for a brighter future are falling under the shadow of potentially catastrophic regional conflagration. The only way out is a redoubling of efforts for a sustainable peace. I once again commend Special Envoy Grundberg for his steadfast efforts in this regard.

And I urge Member States to do everything they can to support him, and to push for the resumption of the peace process and an urgent de-escalation across the region.

Thank you.