Mr. President,
I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the A3+ namely—Algeria, Guyana, Sierra Leone, and my own country, Somalia.
We thank today’s briefers—Special Envoy, Hans Grundberg; the representative of OCHA; and Ms. Dina El Mamoun from CIVIC—for their valuable insights. We also welcome the participation of the Permanent Representative of Yemen in today’s meeting.
Mr. President,
The A3+ welcomes the recent ceasefire deal reached between the Houthis and the United States of America, giving new hope for the possibility of achieving progress on the political track in Yemen. We commend the Sultanate of Oman for its mediation and express our appreciation to His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq for Oman’s continued commitment to regional peace.
We urge all parties to build on this promising and positive development and to re-engage in a Yemeni-led, Yemeni-owned political process under UN auspices. Only a negotiated and inclusive political settlement can bring lasting peace to Yemen.
We also demand the immediate release of all aid workers and former staff of diplomatic missions who have been detained by the Houthis and insist on full respect for their human rights and the special protections granted to humanitarian workers under international humanitarian law.
With over half the population dependent on aid and many facing food insecurity, displacement and lack of access to essential services, these detentions can exacerbate the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis, thereby putting the lives of millions of Yemenis at risk.
We insist that aid operations must never be politicized nor obstructed and continue to demand protection of all humanitarian workers and unimpeded access to those in need.
We are also encouraged that there have been no recent attacks in the Red Sea as reported by the Secretary General, and we hope that this trend will continue.
Mr. President,
We commend Special Envoy Hans Grundberg for his valuable updates on the latest developments in Yemen and for his continued efforts to facilitate the political process aimed at deescalating tensions and ending the conflict.
The A3+ recognizes and commends OCHA’s critical role in addressing the needs of those in need, despite the growing challenges. We also support the call for increased, flexible, and predictable funding for the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan, especially in light of the severe malnutrition crisis, hence, urging the international community to intensify support for early recovery.
Mr. President,
We appreciate Ms. El Mamoun’s intervention highlighting the impact of the conflict on women and girls in Yemen. We remain concerned about reports of violations of their human rights, including restrictions placed on their movement, arbitrary detention, and other discriminatory practices.
Such measures are inconsistent with international human rights law. We welcome the Government of Yemen’s support for women’s participation in political processes and encourage continued efforts to promote their protection and leadership in peacebuilding.
Mr. President,
The A3+ reaffirms the importance of Yemen’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. We remain fully supportive of the efforts of Special Envoy Grundberg and recognize the continued contributions of regional actors—particularly Saudi Arabia and Oman—in facilitating constructive engagement.
In this context, the A3+ firmly maintains that securing an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza is critical towards a lasting peace throughout the region. The group is concerned about the Israeli airstrikes and the wider ramifications of the Gaza conflict. These actions undermine peace efforts and further destabilize an already fragile situation. We urge all external actors to respect Yemen’s sovereignty and refrain from military escalations. We also stress the need to halt any actions that risk fueling the conflict in Yemen, which threatens to reverse hard-won gains and deepen the humanitarian crisis.
In conclusion, the A3+ stands firmly behind a peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable resolution to the conflict in Yemen. We urge all parties to act with responsibility and this Council to remain united in support of Yemen’s path toward stability and recovery.
I thank you.
