NEW YORK: Pakistan has underscored the need for reinvigorating political dialogue in Yemen and to take “decisive steps” to address the multidimensional crisis the impoverished Arab country is facing in a bid to usher in peace and stability in the region.
“The international community must act with urgency to prevent further deterioration of the crisis and to pave the way for a future of stability and hope for Yemen,” Ambassador Munir Akram, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told the UN Security Council on Thursday.
“We reaffirm our full support for the UN-led peace process and stress the need for an inclusive, comprehensive and sustainable resolution of the conflict,” he said in a debate on the situation in Yemen.
In this regard, regional initiatives, particularly those led by Saudi Arabia and Oman, remain critical in advancing these negotiations, the Pakistani envoy added.
The crisis in Yemen, which worsened in 2014 after Houthi rebels (known officially as Ansar-Allah) seized the capital, Sanaa, has been marked by complex political and military tensions. More than 17 million people – half the country’s population – remain dependent on humanitarian assistance and protection.
Describing the humanitarian situation in Yemen as “tragic”, Ambassador Akram, said, “As we observe the holy month of Ramzan, millions in Yemen continue to endure extreme hardship.”
Currently, he said, 19.5 million people require urgent humanitarian assistance, including 17.1 million facing acute food insecurity. 4.5 million individuals are internally displaced, and 12 million children lack access to basic necessities such as food, water, shelter and healthcare.
“In this situation,” the Pakistani envoy regretted “deeply” the sudden cutoff of funding for humanitarian operation in Yemen, and called for filling the gap by the international community and donor countries, hoping they would step up their contributions to the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan for Yemen .
Pakistan, he said, denounced the Houthi attacks on commercial and merchant vessels, but noted from a UN report that no new incidents of attacks on shipping have been recorded in the past month. This development, he pointed out, coincided with the ceasefire in Gaza.
“This underscores the urgent need to fully implement and preserve the Gaza ceasefire agreement in all its phases — a permanent ceasefire will not only serve the cause of peace in Palestine with Israel, but also contribute to regional stability, including Yemen.”
Ambassador Akram also strongly condemned the arbitrary detention of UN personnel, staff of international and national NGOs, and members of diplomatic missions by the Houthis, saying their safety and security must be guaranteed.
“We call for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained individuals. This will also ensure the uninterrupted flow of humanitarian assistance to those in need.”
In conclusion, the Pakistani envoy reaffirmed, Pakistan’s commitment to supporting a Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process, facilitated by the United Nations.
Briefing the 15-member Council, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen Hans Grundberg warned that after several years of fragile truce, there was a “palpable” fear of a return to all-out war in Yemen.
“The current trajectory is deeply concerning,” he told the Council, updating them on the latest political developments in the country, where Houthi rebels – formally known as Ansar Allah – have been battling Governernment forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition, for more than a decade.
