August 15, 2024
Thank you, Mr. President. And thank you, Special Envoy Grundberg and OCHA Director Doughten, for your informative briefings.
Colleagues, last year, there was hope for a breakthrough in the long-stalled diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the conflict in Yemen. This was a moment of optimism – after years and years of war, after so much devastation and suffering. Unfortunately, peace has, thus far, proven elusive, and the Yemeni people continue to pay a heavy, heavy price.
Today, I want to focus on three ways the Houthis are undermining peace and security in Yemen and across the region and the world.
First, the Houthis continue to unjustly detain humanitarian and diplomatic personnel. Just a few weeks ago, a chorus of Council members demanded the immediate and safe release of these detainees, including in your statements today.
A hundred thirty Yemeni staff, from approximately 29 different organizations, who were working to bring lifesaving assistance to the Yemeni people at the time of their detention. But the Houthis have not freed these detainees and, in fact, have only ramped up attacks on humanitarians, as we heard today from both of our briefers.
Houthi rebels raided the headquarters of the UN’s Human Rights Office in Sana’a. This must be roundly condemned. There is absolutely no justification for targeting UN workers and detaining persons for carrying out their lawful humanitarian and diplomatic work in this conflict and in any conflict. And in fact, it is important that we here in the Council not give justification for the situation in Yemen because things are happening elsewhere in the world.
Colleagues, we have also received credible reports that the Houthis continue to seriously abuse and mistreat the detainees, including U.S. diplomatic staff members that have been held since 2021. Reports also indicate that Houthi officials have warned families of the detained against speaking out publicly, so the actual number of detainees may be significantly higher.
Today, I want to recognize the brave voices of Yemeni civil society organizations that are advocating for the immediate and unconditional release of all unjustly detained persons. This Council must lend our support to those efforts. We must speak with one voice to condemn the Houthis’ detention of the UN and other personnel and demand their immediate, unconditional release.
The second issue I want to raise is the dire humanitarian crisis in Yemen, which has been exacerbated by the Houthis’ obstruction of critical aid and failed record of governance.
As just one example, the Houthis are standing in the way of efforts to combat the spread of cholera in Yemen. The Houthis’ denial of basic medical care has killed hundreds of people since October. This was a preventable tragedy. These are preventable deaths.
Collaboration between the Republic of Yemen government and international organizations on vaccination campaigns contrasts sharply with Houthi obstruction and, in some instances, outright prohibition of ongoing vaccination efforts, which has led to a spike in polio and other preventable diseases in Houthi-controlled areas.
Our message to the Houthis is simple: Stop obstructing aid and stop hindering humanitarian efforts. Lives hang in the balance.
Colleagues, the Houthis are deliberately trying to distract from their failed record by focusing on other events in the region. We should not allow them – allow ourselves to fall into this trap. But the Yemeni people know better. And members of this Council should stop making excuses for the Houthis.
The United States again calls on all Council members to unequivocally condemn the Houthis’ continued, escalatory attacks in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and surrounding waterways.
These attacks continue despite this Council’s demand in Resolution 2722 for the Houthis to quote “cease all such attacks.” These escalatory actions are a grave threat to international navigational freedoms, as well as regional peace and security, and they have driven up prices and caused delays in the delivery of critical humanitarian items, such as food and medicine, to Yemenis.
And make no mistake: Iran has directly enabled these attacks.
The Houthis’ use of an Iranian Samad-3 drone in the July 19 attack on Israel was yet another example of Iranian-supplied weapons enabling deadly terrorist attacks in the region. The Houthis have expanded their ties to other Iranian-backed terrorist organizations in the region in an effort to further sow chaos in Yemen and across the Middle East.
We emphasized this last month and let me repeat it now: The only appropriate response is to condemn these attacks and demand that they stop. Immediately and without preconditions.
Additionally, it is high time this Council did something about Houthi attacks and activities.
To start, we should take steps to deny them the weapons and supplies, particularly the critical materiel they have long received from Iran in contravention of the UN arms embargo established in Resolution 2216.
Recently, the Yemeni Permanent Representative requested additional support in enforcing Resolution 2216. We should heed this call.
Let’s be clear: Member States that stand in the way of holding the Houthis and Iran to account are complicit in undermining the credibility of this Council’s resolutions.
As for our part, the United States will continue to support Israel’s right to self-defense in the face of these unprecedented attacks.
Colleagues, just because peace has proven elusive, and just because this moment is marked by Houthi escalation, does not mean we can give in to cynicism, or worse, let this conflict slide down the Council’s agenda. That would be a grave injustice to the Yemeni people and to our mandate to maintain international peace and security.
And so, we must continue to call out the escalatory actions of the Houthis. And we must continue to call on all parties to work towards peace.
Thank you, Mr. President.