Since 2014, Yemen has been engulfed in conflicts between the internationally recognized government and Houthi activists (officially known as the Ansar Allah movement). A fragile truce negotiated in 2022 has helped reduce fighting, but violations are underway.
Millions have been moved across the country-already one of the poorest in the Middle East-while public services and infrastructure collapsed.
The humanitarian workers have also been targeted by the Houthis – which control the major expanses of the country, including the capital – with dozens of United Nations staff owned by group and agency offices.
« The Houthi militias are no longer a rebellious group in a remote region, » said President Al-Alimi to the annual debate of the General Assembly.
International Terrorism Group
« On the contrary, they are [an] International terrorist organization armed with the teeth with an advanced Iranian arsenal, including missiles and ballistic drones, trapped boats and sea mines, and missiles and other qualitative weapons that are internationally prohibited. »»
Mr. Al-Alimi-who directs Yemen, the presidential leadership council-said that after more than a decade of war, the Yemenis live « one of the greatest humanitarian crises » while facing « security threats that transcend our borders and spread to the region and the whole world ».
He accused Houthis of using « hunger as a weapon, religion as a tool and maritime passages as a means of blackmail », warning that the Red Sea and the international shipping channels are likely to become a permanent prey to terrorism.
He has rejected years of international and ineffective containment efforts.
« The conflict management policy by offering more incentives has only caused more disasters and destruction, » he said.
He said the UN was not « unable to protect his own staff, who had been kidnapped in Sanaa, unable to protect oil and commercial ships. »
Call to effective action
The Yemeni leader called for an « effective international coalition to restore security, stability and a coalition that would reconstruct state institutions and release the country of militias claws and all forms of terrorist groups. »
The Yemen crisis is an international credibility test, he said.
« What we ask for you are not new declarations, but international action – an international action firm – to support the legitimate government as a trusted partner on the ground. »
He reaffirmed Yemen’s support for the Palestinian cause, praised the growing international recognition of a Palestinian state and expressed his gratitude to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates for their supported support for his country.
« Yemen and Gaza … are the moral test field [United Nations]. They are the place where we can certainly confirm that the power on the right is always able to face the right of the power. »»
Publicado anteriormente en Almouwatin.
