September 12, 2024
Thank you, Mr. President.
I thank Special Envoy Grundberg and Acting USG Msuya for their informative briefings.
Our appreciation also goes to Ms. Al Obahi for her sobering testimony on urgent humanitarian and economic challenges.
As the briefers confirmed, Yemen is experiencing multidimensional instability, coupled with a severe humanitarian situation that has been worsened by severe flooding.
With this in mind, I wish to highlight three points.
First, Japan unequivocally condemns the series of destabilizing actions by the Houthis, including their continued attacks against commercial shipping in and around the Red Sea.
In particular, we are appalled that the MV Sounion, a tanker carrying more than a million of barrels of crude oil, caught fire and was abandoned after multiple strikes by the Houthis recently. Considering the possible risk of an oil spill, this situation remains concerning and we must be vigilant.
Japan strongly demands that the Houthis not interrupt the ongoing salvage operation.
The Houthis must immediately stop their threats to maritime security, the cornerstone of international trade, and unconditionally release the 25 crew members of the Galaxy Leader, who have been held for nearly 10 months, in accordance with this Council’s resolutions 2722 and 2739.
International efforts are necessary to put a halt to the Houthis’ reckless behavior.
In this regard, our Foreign Minister recently held a call with her Iranian counterpart, and called on Iran to exercise its influence over the Houthis.
Moreover, we have a collective responsibility to prevent any further illicit transfers of weapons to the Houthis, consistent with the resolutions 2216 and 2624.
Japan supports initiatives to strengthen the arms embargo mechanism.
Second, Japan is outraged by the Houthis’ continued arbitrary detention for more than three months of United Nations personnel and members of civil society, national and international non-governmental organizations, diplomatic missions and private sector entities.
We are seriously concerned about their well-being and reiterate our demand that the Houthis immediately and unconditionally release all those detained and never again conduct any such detentions.
The humanitarian situation in Yemen is dire, with over 18 million people suffering from food insecurity, epidemics, displacement, damaged infrastructure and economic collapse.
The United Nations and its partners are working tirelessly to address these challenges.
The safety and freedom of movement of humanitarian workers must be assured.
Last but not least, Japan deeply regrets that the peace process has made little progress amid regional escalation, even as the situation in Yemen is getting more and more fragile.
It is imperative to restore a conducive environment for the peace talks.
Japan urges both parties to prioritize the interests of the Yemeni people, especially women and girls, and engage in a sustained dialogue as the foundation for achieving a lasting and inclusive peace in Yemen.
We continue to support the critical mediation work of the Special Envoy toward this end.
I thank you.