The situation in the Middle East - Security Council, 9935th meeting

Peace in Yemen ‘so much more’ than threat containment, Special Envoy tells Security Council, urging support for its people.

• Categories: Meetings & Events / Security Council
• Video Length: 01:27:19
• Production Date: 12 June 2025
• Asset Language: Arabic; English; French; Russian; Spanish; Chinese; Original
• Personal Subject: HANS GRUNDBERG; JOYCE MSUYA
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS - OCHA
• Subject Topical: MIDDLE EAST SITUATION; YEMEN SITUATION; HOSTILITY; CIVILIAN PROTECTION; NEGOTIATION; EMERGENCY RELIEF; FOOD SECURITY; HEALTH CARE; HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE; ARMED GROUPS
• Geographic Subject: MIDDLE EAST; YEMEN
• MAMS Id: 3410169
• Parent Id: 3406960
• Alternate Title: MTG SC 9935 MIDDLE EAST 12 JUN 2025 AM

Description

Attacks by Ansar Allah — often referred to as the Houthis — against Israel and subsequent retaliatory strikes on infrastructure in Yemen continue, the head of the UN presence there told the Security Council today, as he urged humanitarian, economic and political action to alleviate the crisis before it is too late. 

“While the Red Sea remains calm following the cessation-of-hostilities agreement between the United States and Ansar Allah,” said Hans Grundberg, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, the latter launched multiple attacks on targets in Israel over the last month. Israel struck the ports of Hudaydah and Saleef, as well as Sana’a Airport, in response. “I reiterate my call for all actors to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure,” he said, also urging the Council to exert “maximum” pressure on Ansar Allah to unconditionally release the UN and other staff it has detained arbitrarily. 

Recalling his recent meetings with representatives of both Yemen and Ansar Allah, as well as key regional actors, he noted the “general consensus” that only a negotiated settlement can resolve the conflict in Yemen. “I emphasize again, however, that time is not on our side,” he continued, reporting that multiple frontlines across Yemen remain fragile and risk “descending into more-active fighting”. Marib remains a cause for particular concern — with reports of troop movement and occasional flareups — in addition to sporadic activity on other front lines. 

“More can — and should — be done to alleviate the humanitarian and economic hardships faced by the Yemeni people,” he added. This includes allowing the Government to export oil and gas and facilitating the unobstructed flow of goods across the country. Warning that “the cost of inaction is high”, he said that Yemen cannot afford more years of division, economic collapse and human suffering. He added: “Peace in Yemen is so much more than a containment of a threat. It is, first and foremost, about the Yemenis.” 

• Briefer: Mr. Hans Grundberg, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen (via video-teleconference) 
• Briefer: Ms. Joyce Msuya, Acting Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator 
• Statements: All Council members, with Somalia speaking on behalf of: Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone, Somalia 
• Statement: Yemen 

Related Sites and Documents

UN Meetings Coverage

S/PV.9935