LONDON: The UK on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to support for the humanitarian response in Yemen, highlighting the more than $190 million in aid it provided last year. It comes as concerns grow over worsening food insecurity across the country.
Addressing a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the country, which has been locked in civil war for 12 years, UK envoy Jennifer MacNaughtan said that with more than 18 million people facing food insecurity, Britain remained committed to working with its international partners to reach vulnerable communities with aid.
She warned that many Yemeni families have been forced to adopt extreme coping mechanisms, including selling their homes and land to afford basic necessities, and forecasts indicate the conditions are likely to deteriorate further in the coming months.
“Last year, the UK provided over $190 million towards the humanitarian response in Yemen, and we remain committed to supporting these efforts and working collectively with partners to reach those most in need,” MacNaughtan said.
It came as the UN’s special envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said the recent US-Iran nuclear agreement could provide a rare opportunity to revive the long-stalled peace process in Yemen.
He told council members that the deal between Washington and Tehran creates a potential turning point for Yemenis, and he urged stakeholders to seize the moment to pursue a political settlement after years of conflict in the country.
MacNaughtan also welcomed a new agreement for the release of conflict-related detainees in Yemen. She praised the efforts of the UN, Saudi Arabia and the International Committee of the Red Cross in securing the deal, and thanked Jordan and Oman for their support.
“We urge all parties to ensure the full and timely implementation of the agreement and to build further on this positive momentum,” she said.
While welcoming this development, MacNaughtan also reiterated London’s condemnation of the detention by the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen of UN personnel, employees of nongovernmental organizations, representatives of civil society, and diplomatic staff.
She said the UK remained “deeply concerned” about the welfare of those being held, noting that some detainees had been separated from their families for more than two years.
This month, members of the Security Council renewed their calls for the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees, including 73 UN personnel.
MacNaughtan said threats against humanitarian workers disrupt life-saving operations and worsen conditions for millions of Yemenis in need of assistance.
“The UK welcomes continued efforts across the United Nations and through all possible channels to secure their immediate and unconditional release,” she added.
She also stressed the importance of maintaining an international focus on efforts to restore stability and security in Yemen, despite wider regional challenges. MacNaughtan welcomed progress made by the internationally recognized Yemeni government since February, and support provided by Saudi Arabia through the provision of fuel derivatives at a critical time.
The UK would continue to support the president of the Presidential Leadership Council, Rashad Al-Alimi, and Prime Minister Shaya Mohsen Zindani as the government pursues reforms and develops a new national development plan, she added.
