UN / YEMEN SANCTIONS

The Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution extending sanctions on Yemen for another 12 months. UNIFEED

• Video Length: 00:03:42
• Production Date: 13 November 2024
• Asset Language: English; Russian
• Personal Subject: BARBARA WOODWARD; DMITRY A. POLYANSKIY; ROBERT A. WOOD
• Corporate Name: SECURITY COUNCIL
• Subject Topical: SANCTIONS
• Geographic Subject: YEMEN
• MAMS Id: 3307806
• Parent Id: 3307806
• Alternate Title: unifeed241113b

Description

STORY: UN / YEMEN SANCTIONS
TRT: 03:42
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / RUSSIAN / NATS

DATELINE: 13 NOVEMBER 2024, NEW YORK CITY / FILE

Shotlist

FILE – NEW YORK CITY

1. Wide shot, United Nations headquarters

13 NOVEMBER 2024, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Security Council
3. UPSOUND (English) Barbara Woodward, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, United Kingdom:
“Will those in favor of the draft resolution contained in document S/2024/811, please raise their hand. The result of the voting is as follows; the draft resolution received 15 votes in favor. The draft resolution has been adopted unanimously as resolution 27/58/2024.”
4. Wide shot, Security Council
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Barbara Woodward, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, United Kingdom:
“We thank the Council for its show of unity in the adoption of a 12-month technical rollover. The Council's continued positive engagement on this file is crucial to rejuvenating the Yemeni peace process. These tools play a vital role in limiting the ability of the Houthis to destabilize Yemen, threaten the Red Sea and hamper peace efforts.”
6. Wide shot, Security Council
7. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Dmitry Polyanskiy, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Russian Federation:
“We call on our colleagues to not forget the Security Council restrictions, by design, are meant to support the stabilization of the situation and help establish peace and security, rather than serving as a tool for punishing troublesome political forces in the country, and certainly not to provoke tensions between states in the region. Yemen is no exception.”
8. Wide shot, Security Council
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Robert A. Wood, Alternate Representative for Special Political Affairs in the United Nations, United States:
“The Houthis have targeted more than 90 merchant vessels with drones and missiles since October 2023 with devastating impacts to commercial shipping. They have unlawfully detained United Nations, NGO, civil society, former diplomatic mission and other staff in Yemen with blatant disregard for international norms, all without consequence. Instead of ignoring these developments, the Council must use the tools at its disposal, including targeted sanctions, to address these escalating threats.”
10. Wide shot, end of Security Council meeting
11. Wide shot, ambassadors walk to the stakeout dais
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Barbara Woodward, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, United Kingdom:
“18.2 million Yemenis, over half of the population, are suffering from food insecurity and are in need of humanitarian assistance to survive. 75 percent of these are women and children. This dire humanitarian situation is being exacerbated by climate change related hazards such as increased temperatures drought and desertification, as well as erratic rainfall patterns and flush flooding.”
13. Wide shot, ambassadors at the stakeout dais
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Barbara Woodward, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, United Kingdom:
“We will work to address the interconnected challenges of conflict and climate change to ensure that immediate and uninhibited humanitarian assistance can continue to be provided alongside achieving a sustainable and sustainable future for Yemen.”
15. Wide shot, ambassadors leaving the stakeout dais

Storyline

The Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution extending sanctions on Yemen for another 12 months. The vote renewed the 2140 Yemen sanctions regime, which comprises targeted financial and travel restrictions, through November 15, 2025.

The Council also extended the mandate of the Panel of Experts supporting the sanctions committee until December 15, 2025. The sanctions, originally implemented to curb destabilizing activities by the Houthi rebel group, include an open-ended arms embargo established under resolution 2216 in April 2015.

The resolution, designated S/2024/811, received 15 votes in favor. Briefing the Security Council today (13 Nov), UK’s Representative, Barbara Woodward said, “The Council’s continued positive engagement on this file is crucial to rejuvenating the Yemeni peace process,” highlighting the “vital role” of sanctions in restraining the Houthis’ destabilizing actions, which include threats to the Red Sea and broader peace efforts in Yemen.

Russian Ambassador Dmitry Polyansky underscored the importance of restraint in the application of sanctions, stating, “Security Council restrictions, by design, are meant to support the stabilization of the situation and help establish peace and security, rather than serving as a tool for punishing troublesome political forces in the country.” He added, “Yemen is no exception.”

U.S. Representative Robert A. Wood highlighted a pattern of Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, reporting that “the Houthis have targeted more than 90 merchant vessels with drones and missiles since October 2023.” Wood also cited the Houthis’ detention of UN, NGO, and diplomatic personnel in Yemen, which he described as demonstrating “blatant disregard for international norms.” He urged the Council to act decisively, saying, “The Council must use the tools at its disposal, including targeted sanctions, to address these escalating threats.”

Briefing reporters before the Security Council meeting, Woodward addressed Yemen’s severe humanitarian crisis, reporting that “18.2 million Yemenis, over half of the population, are suffering from food insecurity and are in need of humanitarian assistance to survive.” She noted that “75 percent of these are women and children,” and emphasized how climate change-related challenges, including increased temperatures, drought, desertification, and erratic rainfall, are compounding the crisis.

Woodward pledged the Council’s commitment to addressing Yemen’s interconnected challenges. “We will work to address the interconnected challenges of conflict and climate change to ensure that immediate and uninhibited humanitarian assistance can continue to be provided alongside achieving a sustainable and sustainable future for Yemen,” she said.