The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, briefed the Security Council on the progress of peace mediation efforts.
“Despite the expiry of the Truce, Yemen and its people continue to feel the benefits from the longest period of relative calm since the beginning of the conflict,” said Special Envoy Grundberg, further noting that the truce contributed to a 40% decrease in grave violation against children, such as killing, maiming, and recruitment to armed formation. Special Envoy Grundberg also noted other benefits such as a steady flow of fuel through the Hudaydah ports, and of flights between #Sanaa and #Amman. He also highlighted the first commercial flights between #KSA and #Sanaa for the first time in 7 years carrying Hajj pilgrims.
Special Envoy Grundberg emphasized that the period of relative calm has opened the door for serious discussion with Yemeni actors and the need to have a serious breakthrough in talks in order to sustainably end the war.
He stressed that, despite marked decrease in fighting since the start of the truce, “frontlines aren’t silent”. He reported armed clashes in Dhale’, Taiz, Hudaydah, Marib and Shabwa, and expressed concerned about reports of troop movements, including near #Marib, a recent parade of fighters in Ibb, and public threats of a return to large-scale fighting.
The Special Envoy relayed that the parties continue to battle on a different front – the economy. “The struggle to control revenue-generating ports, trade routes, the banking sector, currency and natural-resource wealth has become inseparable from the political and military conflict… As always, it is Yemeni citizens who pay the highest price for the economic divisions and deterioration in the country,” SE Grundberg said.
He further stressed that freedom of movement remains a challenge and pointed that “conflict-related road closures force thousands of Yemenis every day to take unsafe routes and have raised the cost of transporting goods by upwards of 100%.” In particular, he highlighted that the restrictions on women and girls’ freedom of movement have become even more pronounced over the course of the conflict.
“Such restrictions prevent women from accessing their basic needs, from engaging in economic opportunities, and from participating in politics and peace-making efforts,” he said.
SE Grundberg called on all parties to take “bold steps toward a peace that is sustainable and just. This means an end to the conflict that promises accountable national and local governance; economic and environmental justice; and guarantees of equal citizenship for all Yemenis.”
In order to achieve this, Special Envoy Grundberg emphasized three key elements:
“First, the parties need to immediately stop military provocation and prepare for and agree to a sustainable nationwide ceasefire… Second, the parties need to immediately de-escalate economically and address near- and longer-term economic priorities… [and] reverse antagonistic economic policies, which deepen the divide between them and further fragment the country…Third, the parties need to make progress on agreeing to a clear path to restarting an intra-Yemeni political process under UN auspices. This process needs to start urgently in order to consolidate the gains made since the truce and prevent further fragmentation.”
SE Grundberg underscored that the UN-mediated process will be led and owned by Yemenis, and will involve and reflect the priorities of a plurality of Yemenis, including women and men from across Yemen’s governorates. He also noted that “Yemenis have rich capacities to draw on in any political negotiation. There is a rich history of dialogue, innovation and compromise in Yemen, including at the national level. At the local level, Yemenis every day prove their solidarity and capacity to resolve problems. They open roads, release detainees and negotiate access amid significant barriers to movement.”
Read the briefing: https://osesgy.unmissions.org/briefing-special-envoy-hans-grundberg-un-security-council-0
“Despite the expiry of the Truce, Yemen and its people continue to feel the benefits from the longest period of relative calm since the beginning of the conflict,” said Special Envoy Grundberg, further noting that the truce contributed to a 40% decrease in grave violation against children, such as killing, maiming, and recruitment to armed formation. Special Envoy Grundberg also noted other benefits such as a steady flow of fuel through the Hudaydah ports, and of flights between #Sanaa and #Amman. He also highlighted the first commercial flights between #KSA and #Sanaa for the first time in 7 years carrying Hajj pilgrims.
Special Envoy Grundberg emphasized that the period of relative calm has opened the door for serious discussion with Yemeni actors and the need to have a serious breakthrough in talks in order to sustainably end the war.
He stressed that, despite marked decrease in fighting since the start of the truce, “frontlines aren’t silent”. He reported armed clashes in Dhale’, Taiz, Hudaydah, Marib and Shabwa, and expressed concerned about reports of troop movements, including near #Marib, a recent parade of fighters in Ibb, and public threats of a return to large-scale fighting.
The Special Envoy relayed that the parties continue to battle on a different front – the economy. “The struggle to control revenue-generating ports, trade routes, the banking sector, currency and natural-resource wealth has become inseparable from the political and military conflict… As always, it is Yemeni citizens who pay the highest price for the economic divisions and deterioration in the country,” SE Grundberg said.
He further stressed that freedom of movement remains a challenge and pointed that “conflict-related road closures force thousands of Yemenis every day to take unsafe routes and have raised the cost of transporting goods by upwards of 100%.” In particular, he highlighted that the restrictions on women and girls’ freedom of movement have become even more pronounced over the course of the conflict.
“Such restrictions prevent women from accessing their basic needs, from engaging in economic opportunities, and from participating in politics and peace-making efforts,” he said.
SE Grundberg called on all parties to take “bold steps toward a peace that is sustainable and just. This means an end to the conflict that promises accountable national and local governance; economic and environmental justice; and guarantees of equal citizenship for all Yemenis.”
In order to achieve this, Special Envoy Grundberg emphasized three key elements:
“First, the parties need to immediately stop military provocation and prepare for and agree to a sustainable nationwide ceasefire… Second, the parties need to immediately de-escalate economically and address near- and longer-term economic priorities… [and] reverse antagonistic economic policies, which deepen the divide between them and further fragment the country…Third, the parties need to make progress on agreeing to a clear path to restarting an intra-Yemeni political process under UN auspices. This process needs to start urgently in order to consolidate the gains made since the truce and prevent further fragmentation.”
SE Grundberg underscored that the UN-mediated process will be led and owned by Yemenis, and will involve and reflect the priorities of a plurality of Yemenis, including women and men from across Yemen’s governorates. He also noted that “Yemenis have rich capacities to draw on in any political negotiation. There is a rich history of dialogue, innovation and compromise in Yemen, including at the national level. At the local level, Yemenis every day prove their solidarity and capacity to resolve problems. They open roads, release detainees and negotiate access amid significant barriers to movement.”
Read the briefing: https://osesgy.unmissions.org/briefing-special-envoy-hans-grundberg-un-security-council-0
OSESGY
BRIEFING BY SPECIAL ENVOY HANS GRUNDBERG TO THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL
Thank you very much. And thank you also for giving me this opportunity to brief the Council on the latest developments in Yemen and my efforts to mediate an agreement on the way forward between the Government of Yemen and Ansar Allah. Despite the expiry of…
UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg welcomed the recent visit by an Ansar Allah-led delegation to Riyadh and expressed gratitude for the efforts of #KSA & #Oman to facilitate the resumption of an intra-Yemeni political process under the auspices of the UN.
Read full statement: https://osesgy.unmissions.org/grundberg-welcomes-recent-momentum-peace-yemen
Read full statement: https://osesgy.unmissions.org/grundberg-welcomes-recent-momentum-peace-yemen
OSESGY
Grundberg welcomes recent momentum for peace in Yemen
The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, welcomed the visit by an Ansar Allah-led delegation to Riyadh. He expressed gratitude for the efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman aimed at reaching solutions…