Tag Archives: yemen

UN envoy urges renewed political push as Yemen tensions rise

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Hans Grundberg also warned that rising regional tensions risk dragging Yemen back into broader confrontation. 

“I ask this Council to remain united in supporting a credible path back to a political process, and I urge regional actors to align around the same purpose and to use their influence in a coordinated way to steer Yemenis toward engagement,” he said. 

A ‘fragile’ situation 

Since 2014, Yemeni government forces, who are backed by a Saudi-led coalition, and Houthi rebels have been fighting for full control of the fractured country.  

The internationally recognised authorities are largely based in the southern city of Aden while the Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, control the capital Sana’a and large areas of the north and west.  

In recent months, forces affiliated with a separatist group in the south have advanced on more territory.  

Mr. Grundberg briefed from the Saudi capital Riyadh, where he held talks with Yemen’s newly appointed Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani and members of the Presidential Leadership Council. 

He highlighted early positive signs in government areas, including improvements in the provision of electricity and payment of public sector salaries, and commended the appointment of three women cabinet ministers. 

“However, continued tensions, recent security incidents and demonstrations, where in some cases violence and loss of life has been reported, underscore the fragility of the situation,” he said. 

‘Protect recent gains’ 

He told the Council that the new cabinet “can protect recent gains by anchoring them in strengthened institutions and economic reforms”. 

Furthermore, a planned southern dialogue offers an opportunity to begin addressing long-standing grievances and build consensus on issues important to the region’s people and all Yemenis.  

Mr. Grundberg said that stabilisation in any part of the country will not be durable if the broader conflict is not addressed comprehensively. 

“It is high time to take decisive steps in that regard,” he said. “Without a wider negotiated political settlement to the conflict, gains will continue to remain vulnerable to reversal.” 

The way forward 

The UN envoy has been engaging with the warring parties, regional actors and the international community to explore ways to restart an inclusive political process in Yemen.  

His office has also held consultations with a diverse group of Yemenis, leading to three takeaways. 

The first calls for acknowledging what more than a decade of war has done to Yemen. Although the conflict has become more complex, the common objective has remained steady and firm. 

“Yemen needs an inclusive political process under UN auspices to reach a negotiated political settlement that can sustainably end the conflict, but getting there requires that the parties adopt a forward-looking approach,” he said. 

Restarting a political process will require engagement across political, economic and security issues in tandem “without making engagement in one track contingent on progress in another”, he added. 

The third point calls for a credible process that enables near-term agreements that reduce suffering and demonstrate progress. At the same time, space must be created for negotiations on longer-term issues, including the future shape of the State, security arrangements and principles of governance. 

Free detained staff 

The Special Envoy also used the briefing to reiterate his call for the unconditional release of scores of UN personnel who have been arbitrarily detained by the Houthis. 

Currently, 73 staff are locked up, along with representatives from civil society and diplomatic missions. 

“Many have been held incommunicado, with serious concerns about their conditions and wellbeing. Some have been referred to Ansar Allah’s special criminal court, which is proceeding with trials that fall far short of basic due process,” he said. 

He noted that this week marked a year since a staff member with the World Food Progamme (WFP) died while being held and no investigation has taken place. 

Houthis storm UN offices 

A senior official with the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, updated the Council on the humanitarian situation in Yemen. 

“As we have said in this Council before, these detentions of humanitarian workers are having a profound impact on operations,” Lisa Doughten, director of OCHA’s financing and outreach division, told ambassadors. 

She reported that the Houthi de facto authorities entered multiple UN offices in Sana’a on 29 January “without permission, commandeering equipment and vehicles”.  

They also continue to withhold clearances for UN Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) flights to Marib, though flights to Sana’a resumed over the weekend following a month-long suspension.  

Millions in need 

The “interference and impediments” are happening when 22.3 million people – half the population – need humanitarian assistance this year, or nearly three million more than in 2025.  

Around 18 million face food insecurity, making Yemen the region’s most severe hunger crisis. It is also the country with the largest number of people experiencing emergency food security conditions, some 5.5 million. 

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World News in Brief: UN condemns attack on civilians in Nigeria, updates from Gaza and West Bank, relief flights to resume in Yemen

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In a statement issued by his spokesperson, António Guterres conveyed his “heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and to the people and Government of Nigeria,” and wished a speedy recovery to those injured.

“The Secretary-General reiterates the solidarity of the United Nations with the Government and people of Nigeria in their efforts to fight terrorism and violent extremism and stresses the importance of bringing the perpetrators to justice,” the statement said.

Death toll may rise

According to media reports, armed groups attacked two rural villages in Kwara state on 3 February, with the death toll expected to rise as bodies continue to be discovered.

Many victims were reportedly shot at close range, while homes and shops were set ablaze, forcing residents to flee into nearby bushland.

The attack was the deadliest recorded in the area in recent months, amid a sharp rise in violence across Nigeria’s northwest and north-central regions, where armed groups have increasingly targeted civilians.

The worsening security situation has also contributed to a deepening humanitarian crisis, with large-scale displacement and growing hunger and malnutrition across affected areas.

Civilians deaths and injuries continue due to Gaza attacks

Despite the shaky ceasefire, dozens of civilian deaths and injuries continued to be reported in Gaza over the past 24 hours, as well as ongoing displacement in the West Bank, according to UN agencies.

Many people remained inaccessible to emergency teams, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists, citing reports from the UN aid coordination office OCHA.

He reiterated that all parties must comply with international humanitarian law, including the obligation to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Mr. Dujarric said UN teams overnight received 25 additional returnees crossing through Rafah, who were transported by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.

There, UN partners continue operating a reception area providing medical, psychological and protection support.

He added that the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners supported the medical evacuation of 15 patients and 31 companions from Gaza to Egypt over the past two days.

Record spike in West Bank attacks

Attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank have seen a massive spike since 2021, with more than 50 Israeli settler attacks recorded between 20 January and 2 February.

The attacks resulted in casualties, property damage or both.

According to OCHA, since the beginning of 2026, more than 900 Palestinians have been forced out of their homes or communities, mostly due to settler violence and access restrictions, followed by demolitions.

OCHA said it is carrying out preliminary assessments of damage and needs following these incidents, to inform the humanitarian response.

Yemen: Aid flights set to resume to Houthi-controlled capital

The UN has confirmed that its aid flights to Yemen’s opposition-held capital will resume, after being blocked for more than a month.

UN Humanitarian Air Service flights are a vital provider of relief amid overwhelming needs across Houthi-held areas, including the capital city, Sana’a, and other locations across Yemen, which has been at war since 2014.

Boost to aid delivery

Julien Harneis, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, said in a statement that the agreement reached earlier this week will allow NGOs to enter and exit Sana’a, which is a prerequisite to providing assistance for millions of people in need in Houthi-controlled areas.

Years of conflict between separatists and the internationally recognised government have left more than 19.5 million people needing humanitarian assistance and more than 4.8 ‎million internally displaced.

Funding is only available to meet around 25 per cent of needs, meaning that millions ‎are not getting lifesaving assistance, including health care, shelter, water, sanitation ‎and hygiene.

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Yemen: Security Council votes on final extension of Hudaydah Mission

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Resolution 2813 (2026), submitted by the United Kingdom, received 13 votes in favour and none against. Two countries – China and Russia – abstained. 

It calls for the effective, efficient and safe drawdown of the UN Mission to Support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA), as well as planning and preparation for transitioning any residual functions to the Office of the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Yemen. 

Liquidation will commence on 1 April. 

Tireless efforts 

UNMHA was established by the Council in 2019 to support implementation of an agreement signed by the Yemeni Government and Houthi rebels in Stockholm, Sweden, the previous year. 

The UN brokered the accord at a time when a battle over Hudaydah – critical for the entry of food and medicine into war-ravaged Yemen – appeared imminent.  

UK Deputy Permanent Representative Archie Young welcomed the mandate extension.  

He also thanked “those UNMHA officials who have worked tirelessly since 2019, especially in the face of continued Houthi restrictions which inhibited the Mission’s ability to fulfill its mandate.” 

Concern for UN personnel 

He stressed that the safety of UN personnel in Yemen “remains of the utmost importance” and reiterated the UK’s condemnation of arbitrary detentions by the Houthis. 

The rebel movement which controls much of the country, including the capital, is holding 69 UN staff, alongside personnel from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society and diplomatic missions.  

UN Secretary-General António Guterres, his Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and other senior officials have repeatedly called for their immediate and unconditional release. 

Important stabilising role 

Russia’s Deputy Permanent Representative Anna Evstigneeva explained why Moscow abstained from voting. 

“We did not block the adoption of this resolution purely due to the request of representatives of Yemen, as the host state, as well as from some of our regional partners,” she said. 

“In principle, we do not agree with the idea set out by the authors of this document:  the idea that UNMHA is ineffective and incapable of duly fulfilling the mandate entrusted to it by the Council, hence the need to sunset the Mission.”  

She said the Mission “has played and continues to play an important stabilising role on the ground, notwithstanding the operational difficulties linked to implementation of its mandate, which arise from time to time.”  

Among its “still relevant functions” are monitoring implementation of the Stockholm Agreement; facilitating maintenance of the civilian nature of the ports of Hudaydah, Salif and Ras Isa, and oversight of mine clearance operations.  

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Yemen: Children are dying and it’s going to get worse, warns aid veteran

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“The simple narrative is, children are dying and it’s going to get worse,” said Julien Harneis, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen. “My fear is that we won’t hear about it until the mortality and the morbidity significantly increases in this next year.”

The alert follows an attempt by forces affiliated with the Southern Transitional Council (STC) to expand their presence in the resource-rich and strategically important eastern governorates of Hadramout and Al Mahra, a move reportedly reversed earlier this month by Government-aligned forces backed by Saudi Arabia.

The latest crisis comes after well over a decade of fighting between Houthi-led forces – who control the capital, Sana’a – and the internationally recognized government in Aden, backed by a Saudi-led military coalition. 

Complex operating environment

“It’s an extraordinarily complicated situation,” Mr. Harneis told journalists in Geneva. “Just in the last month in Aden, we went through a situation where you have the Government of Yemen in charge, then over 48 hours, the Southern Transitional [Council] situation took over the whole of the Government of Yemen areas, including areas they’ve never been in.”

Just four weeks later, however, a delegation from the STC released a statement while in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, announcing that they had in fact “dissolved” their movement, allowing the Government in Yemen to retake the recently captured areas. “But at the same time, we’ve got demonstrations in Aden saying that, ‘No, we’re not [disbanded], we’re still there,’” Mr. Harneis explained.

Last week, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg told the Security Council that this latest political and security upheaval underscored how quickly stability could unravel without a credible, inclusive political process to bring a negotiated end to the debilitating war.

Securing a peaceful future for the people of Yemen and providing lifesaving help has also been complicated by the ongoing detention of UN staff and diplomatic workers, among others, by Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran and control Sana’a. 

Mr. Harneis described the torment for the families of the 69 staff members still being held: “It’s terrible for them; some families haven’t seen their loved ones in five years. They don’t know the conditions of their detention, they don’t know where they are, they don’t know if they’re going to be sentenced to death in the coming days.”

Millions going hungry

Latest UN data shows that more than 20 million Yemenis – about half the population – will face acute food insecurity next month, while tens of thousands could face famine-like conditions.

“We are expecting things to be much worse in 2026,” Mr. Harneis said.

A young boy is carried by his mother thorough a neighbourhood in Al Hawtah, Lahj Governate in Yemen.

The country’s health system is also collapsing. More than 450 facilities have already closed and thousands more are at risk of losing funding. Vaccination programmes are also under threat and only two-thirds of Yemen’s children are fully immunised, largely owing to a lack of access in the north.

“The way that economic and political decisions are playing out…food insecurity is only getting worse across all parts of the country”, the UN aid official maintained.

“We’re going to see a major change where the health system is not going to be supported in the way it has been in the past.”

Despite access restrictions, UN partners reached 3.4 million people with food assistance last year, along with emergency support during floods and disease outbreaks. 

The UN has been working in Yemen since the 1960s, helping to make development gains and protect the country’s most vulnerable people. “And then suddenly in the last couple of years this breakdown…inexplicably,” Mr. Harneis said. “That has a terrifying effect on the humanitarian workers.”

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Yemen: UN Sounds Alarm as Famine, Fighting, Detentions Exacerbate Crisis

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UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg told the Security Council on Monday that the turmoil in Yemen cannot be seen in isolation.

“Yemen is both a mirror and a magnifier of the region’s volatility,” he said, noting that progress toward peace is hampered by regional rivalries, cross-border dynamics, and internal divisions.

Mr. Grundberg highlighted a dangerous escalation in hostilities, noting repeated attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure. Military clashes in Al Dhale’, Ma’rib, and Ta’iz underscore the risk that miscalculations could trigger a return to full-scale conflict.

The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, have been fighting Yemeni Government forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, for control of the country for over a decade.

Hans Grundberg, UN Special Envoy for Yemen, briefs the Security Council on the situation in Yemen. He warned that Yemen’s conflict is unravelling within an already volatile regional landscape.

© UNICEF/Ahmed Al-Basha A girl and her brother walk home after attending classes at a UNICEF-supported educational tent. Millions of children in Yemen are out of school due to displacement and conflict-damaged schools. (file photo)

“Against the backdrop of the war in Gaza, we are seeing an alarming and dangerous intensification of hostilities between Ansar Allah and Israel,” he said, noting that a number of civilians were reportedly killed and injured, and critical infrastructure struck.

The Special Envoy warned that the current cycle of violence is dragging Yemen further from a peace process that could deliver sustainable, long-term peace and economic growth.

“This escalatory cycle must end…we need to get the focus back on Yemen – focus on both its internal challenges and on unlocking its great potential,” he stressed.

Spiralling humanitarian situation

The humanitarian situation is equally dire. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher told the Council that Yemen remains the third most food-insecure country in the world, with 17 million people already struggling to eat and an additional one million expected to face extreme hunger before February next year.

“Seventy per cent of households do not have enough food to meet daily needs – this is the highest rate ever recorded,” he said.

Mr. Fletcher highlighted that one in five households goes a full day without any food, while two million women and girls have lost access to reproductive health services amid funding shortfalls.

Despite funding gaps and a challenging operating environment, humanitarians continue to deliver aid where possible. In Hajjah, Amran, and Ma’rib, organizations have provided food, water, health, and nutrition services to tens of thousands.

More than 172,000 people affected by flooding received non-food items, shelter, hygiene kits, and clean water.

But Mr. Fletcher warned that ongoing hostilities, infrastructure damage, and the detention of UN staff severely hamper operations.

Twenty-two UN personnel have been recently arbitrarily detained by Ansar Allah; though one staff member was released, over 40 remain in detention, including a colleague who died while in custody.

Both top UN officials emphasised the urgent need for dialogue and adherence to international law. Special Envoy Grundberg urged Yemeni leaders to step back from unilateral actions and pursue a nationwide ceasefire, economic reforms, and inclusive political engagement.

Mr. Fletcher called for the immediate release of all detained aid workers and a secure operating environment, warning that funding cuts and conflict-related obstacles are costing lives.

“Detaining humanitarian staff does not help the people of Yemen. It does not feed the hungry, heal the sick, nor protect those displaced by floods or fighting,” he said.

“The people of Yemen, wherever they may live, must receive the humanitarian aid that they need. They deserve a future of greater security, justice and opportunity.”

Guterres condemns detention of more UN staff in Yemen

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He said the Houthis entered the premises of the World Food Programme (WFP) in the capital, Sana’a, and seized UN property, in addition to attempting to enter other UN premises in the city.

The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, have been battling Yemeni Government forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, for control of the country for over a decade.

Since October 2023, they also have been targeting Israel as well as commercial ships in the Red Sea, in solidarity with the Palestinian cause in Gaza.

Release all detained personnel

Mr. Guterres strongly reiterated his demand for the immediate and unconditional release of the staff members and all other personnel from the UN, international and national non-governmental organizations, civil society and diplomatic missions, who have been arbitrarily detained for over a year and those held since 2021 and 2023.

“The personnel of the UN and its partners must never be targeted, arrested or detained while carrying out their duties for the UN,” he said.

“The safety and security of UN personnel and property as well as the inviolability of UN premises must be guaranteed at all times.”

The Secretary-General added that the UN will continue to work tirelessly to secure the release of the detained staff members and, together with its partners, will continue to support the people of Yemen and their aspirations for a just and lasting peace.

UN envoy concerned

Meanwhile, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen said on Sunday that he was “following with great concern” recent developments in the country, where Houthi-controlled areas have continued to be subject to Israeli strikes following Ansar Houthi attacks against Israel.

Hans Grundberg reiterated that Yemen cannot afford to become a battleground for a broader geopolitical conflict, stressing that these attacks need to stop.

The Special Envoy continues to urge all sides to use available diplomatic channels to de-escalate the situation.

Mr. Grundberg was also deeply concerned by the civilian deaths and injuries in the recent Israeli attacks. Additionally, according to Houthi statements, several senior Houthi officials and political interlocutors were killed and injured.

He called on all sides to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, in line with international law.

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World News In Brief: Iran sanctions, Yemen floods appeal, new SDG advocates

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“I can tell you that the Secretary-General is aware that today, the Security Council received this joint letter from the three countries,” UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric told journalists.

The three European nations were signatories to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), an agreement that granted Iran sanctions relief in exchange for strict limits on uranium enrichment, stockpile levels and centrifuge use, alongside robust monitoring and verification by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Snapback clause

The agreement includes a so-called “snapback mechanism” that allows for the reinstatement of sanctions within 30 days if Iran is found to be non-compliant. 

“The Secretary-General urges the JCPOA participants and the Security Council to continue negotiations to find a diplomatic solution that ensures the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear programme and brings about economic benefits to the people of Iran,” Mr. Dujarric said.

He said the coming weeks offer “a window of opportunity” to deescalate tensions and pursue a peaceful resolution.

The Secretary-General also underscored the urgency of avoiding a renewed military conflict, and prioritising dialogue. 

In Yemen, IOM appeals for support amid deadly flooding

The UN migration agency, IOM, appealed on Thursday for international support for war-ravaged Yemen, after violent storms devastated communities, destroying homes and sweeping away livelihoods.

Latest assessments by the International Organization for Migration across 73 displacement sites indicate that well over 46,000 people have been affected.

Yemen has been in crisis since Houthi rebels took up arms against the internationally-recognised Government, seizing control of the capital Sanna’a in 2014.

An uneasy truce largely holds but clashes continue internally, together with Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping and exchanges of airstrikes with Israel rooted in the Gaza conflict.

‘Another devastating blow’

“The floods in Yemen are another devastating blow for families who have already lost so much,” said Abdusattor Esoev, IOM’s Chief of Mission in Yemen.

The governorates of Ibb, Sana’a, Ma’rib, Al Hodeidah, and Ta’iz are among the worst hit, with floods damaging homes, farmland, and public infrastructure.

The latest crisis in Yemen mirrors last year’s devastating floods, which caused widespread damage and loss of life.

This year’s storms have been even more intense and demonstrate how climate change is deepening vulnerabilities across the country and pushing communities further into crisis, IOM said.

UN chief welcomes two new sustainability advocates

The UN chief welcomed two new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) advocates on Thursday: Masai Ujiri, Co-Founder of Giants of Africa and former Vice-Chairman and President of the Toronto Raptors; and Muniba Mazari – an award-winning advocate for disability rights, inclusion, and gender equality.

“The SDG Advocates play a vital role in inspiring global action and ambition to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Secretary-General António Guterres.

Through his non-profit Giants of Africa, Mr Ujiri uses basketball as a transformative tool to create opportunities for youth across Africa and beyond.

“Sport doesn’t just unite people – it breaks down barriers, builds hope and transforms entire communities,” he said.

Pakistan’s ‘Iron Lady’

Ms Mazari, known as the “Iron Lady of Pakistan” has inspired millions through her personal story and her commitment to championing marginalised communities after a spinal cord injury left her using a wheelchair.

“Inclusion is not a privilege; it is a right. I am proud to be an SDG Advocate and to elevate the voices of those who are often unheard,” she said.

Mr Ujiri and Ms Mazari join a global cohort of leaders committed to accelerating progress and inspiring action across all 17 SDGs.

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Yemen: How acts of compassion light the way for healing

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Her journey into humanitarian work began after years of serving in hospitals in Aden, where she witnessed firsthand the struggles vulnerable communities face in accessing healthcare services.

“In Aden, I worked at a private hospital,” she recalled. “I found that many people couldn’t afford treatment. That reality pushed me to find a way to help those left behind.”

She decided to relocate to Ma’rib, a city sheltering hundreds of thousands of people displaced by the conflict and a key transit hub for migrants making the perilous journey from the Horn of Africa through Yemen, with a clear goal in mind: to serve those who could not afford medical treatment.

‘Migrants who reach us are traumatised’

Dr. Nouf said she found her calling at the centre, which provides primary healthcare services to vulnerable groups, especially those on the move.

“Migrants who reach us are traumatised,” she explained. “Whether it’s hunger, fear of death or the unknown, it results in physical, psychological or neurological shocks.”

Dr. Nouf conducts an initial examination to assess her patient’s health condition.

Many arrive with serious, sometimes permanent, injuries. Women in particular often carry visible and invisible scars from abuse suffered along irregular migration routes into the country.

“There are times when I emotionally struggle with what I see and hear,” she said. “But, helping these people and watching them recover fuels my passion and determination to continue.”

Listening to their stories filled with pain, fear and resilience, Dr. Nouf does everything she can to help, assessing each case, providing emergency support and when needed, referring patients to specialised services. From treatment for contagious diseases to care for physical and psychological traumas, MRP also offers protection services for survivors and victims who experienced violence, exploitation and abuse.”

From young migrant to aid worker

Dr. Nouf is not alone in this mission of delivering lifesaving assistance to migrants and Yemenis in need. She works together with a dedicated team of colleagues from diverse backgrounds who tirelessly attend to numerous patients each day, among them Khalid, a 22-year-old Ethiopian whose own migration journey to Ma’rib is a testament to resilience and compassion.

Khalid arrived in Yemen in 2021, heartbroken after his school in Ethiopia refused to let him return due to illness-related absence. Frustrated, he left Ethiopia with smugglers, enduring a grueling 10-day trek through the desert and surviving on shared biscuits. Upon reaching Aden, he found no comfort or assistance, so he continued his journey to Ma’rib where some of his relatives live.

Once in Ma’rib, Khalid was welcomed by his community, who brought him clothes and hosted him. A month later, he began working as a cleaner at a local hospital, a job he held for three years.

‘I’ve been through the same experience’

At the hospital, Khalid encountered other migrants seeking treatment and advocated for their care. He spoke with administrators, urging them to treat these vulnerable individuals for free. His reputation grew, and soon, anyone in need turned to Khalid for help.

“I help other migrants because I’ve been through the same experience,” he said. “I know how support can make the suffering less.”

Eventually, Khalid received the opportunity to work in the MRP, where he can help migrants access services and provide translation support.

“People arrive here suffering from poor nutrition, amoebiasis and malaria. Some bear physical injuries caused during torture for ransom at the hands of traffickers,” he said. “I am thankful to the donors who keep this facility running. It saves lives every day through vital healthcare services.”

Yemen: ‘Regional turmoil continues to erode prospects for peace,’ Security Council hears

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Yemen continues to be one of the world’s most food-insecure countries following over 12 years of war between the Saudi-backed coalition supporting the internationally recognised Government and Ansar Allah – as the rebels are officially known – with  17 million going hungry, according to UN aid coordination office, OCHA.

Despite a fragile but long-lasting ceasefire, regional turmoil continues to erode prospects for peace and stability. Without a political solution, “current cycles of violence – local and regional – along with economic devolution and endemic humanitarian need, will persist,” Ramesh Rajasingham, Director of OCHA’s Coordination Division, told ambassadors.

However, hopes for a lasting peace deal remain: “Reaching a sustainable solution to the situation in Yemen is not only possible, it is essential,” said Special Envoy Grundberg.

Concerning developments

Although frontlines have barely shifted, July saw the Houthi’s fortify their positions, including around Hudaydah City, and launch a significant assault on Government forces in Sa’adah Governorate – developments Mr. Grundberg told the Security Council were “concerning.”

Since October 2023, the Houthis have been targeting Israel as well as commercial ships in the Red Sea, in solidarity with the Palestinian cause in Gaza.

In the past month, the Houthis have continued missile exchanges with Israel, further destabilising Yemen and commerce in the region.

“For Yemen to have a real chance for peace, it must be protected from being further drawn into the ongoing regional turmoil emanating out of the war in Gaza,” Mr. Grundberg said, calling for and end to Houthi strikes against civilian ships in the Red Sea.

In the conflict at home, “the parties need to take actions that build trust and good faith,” he said, as the UN aims to establish a path for further talks.

“Unfortunately, we have seen the opposite in the last month with unilateral and escalatory decisions that risk deepening divisions within institutions and state structures,” said Mr. Grundberg.

Food insecurity

In some parts of Yemen, hunger and malnutrition are extreme – especially in areas of displacement. A needs-assessment mission in July found children from displaced families dying from starvation in such a camp in the Abs District of Hajjah Governorate.

“These are children who have died not from war wounds, but from hunger – slow, silent, and preventable,” Mr. Rajasingham said.

Half of Yemen’s under fives are suffering from acute malnutrition, and nearly half overall from stunting, leaving them much more vulnerable to dying from common illnesses.

Where healthcare is desperately inadequate and support services are unavailable to many, “this is a life-or-death gamble for children,” he said.

Mr. Rajasingham called for increased funding to scale up emergency food and nutrition support across the country, as humanitarian organizations remain on the ground, despite limited resources and operational challenges.

Path forward

Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Envoy for Yemen continues to work towards de-escalation along the frontlines.

In order to establish a path for talks, “it is essential that measures that build trust and improve the day to day lives of Yemenis continue,” Mr. Grundberg said.

“I urge dialogue between the parties, which is the only way to bring about long-term sustainable solutions on all matters,” he said. 

Dozens more migrants die after boat capsizes off the coast of Yemen

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With many victims believed to be Ethiopian nationals, this heartbreaking incident highlights the “urgent need to address the dangers of irregular migration along the Eastern Route,” one of the busiest and riskiest migration routes in the world mainly used by people from the Horn of Africa, said the IOM in a statement on Tuesday.

“Every life lost is a powerful reminder of the human toll of irregular migration,” said the agency.

Safer pathways

Since the beginning of 2025, IOM has recorded more than 350 migrant deaths and disappearances along the Eastern Route, with actual figures likely to be significantly higher.

The agency called for stronger international and regional cooperation to prevent further loss of life by expanding safe and regular migration pathways, enhancing coordinated search and rescue efforts, protecting survivors, and supporting their safe, dignified return and sustainable reintegration into their countries of origin.

Tackling root causes

“Immediate lifesaving assistance and protection for vulnerable migrants must be prioritised, alongside targeted efforts to tackle the root causes of irregular migration,” said the agency.

Commending local authorities for their swift response, the IOM reiterated its commitment to supporting ongoing interagency efforts to identify and assist survivors, recover bodies, and provide support to affected families.

Working with partners to mobilise resources and deliver humanitarian assistance to people on the move, the IOM said this tragic loss of life is a reminder of the crucial need for “safe, regular pathways, strong protection systems, effective search and rescue operations, and accountability for smugglers and traffickers.” 

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Yemen: Security Council extends UN mission in crucial port city amid escalating Red Sea strife

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Adopted unanimously, the resolution extending the UN Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) until 28 January 2026, underscores the Mission’s critical role in maintaining fragile stability amid signs of renewed military escalation and deepening humanitarian need.

The resolution – 2786 (2025) – reaffirms the Council’s support for the 2018 Stockholm Agreement, including the ceasefire in the Houthi-controlled port city – and demilitarisation of its docks, where the majority of Yemen’s imports and vital aid shipments pass through.

The mission’s future

It also signals a growing debate over the mission’s future, requesting the Secretary-General to submit a review by November to enhance coordination and coherence of UN operations, “bearing in mind challenges” that have directly impeded UNMHA’s capacity to deliver.

“The Security Council…expresses its intention to review the full range of options for UNMHA’s mandate, including assessing the future viability and sunsetting of the Mission, and make any necessary adjustments to gain efficiencies and reduce costs or otherwise, as may be required to UN operations in Hudaydah by developments on the ground, including inter alia a durable nationwide ceasefire,” the resolution noted.

UNMHA was established in 2019 to support implementation of the Stockholm Agreement between the Government of Yemen and Ansar Allah (as the Houthis are formally known), which sought to prevent major conflict over the region.

The mission monitors the ceasefire, facilitates redeployments and supports de-escalation through liaison mechanisms between the parties.

Tensions mounting

While the military situation on the ground remains tenuously stable, tensions are mounting on multiple fronts.

According to a letter from the Secretary-General to the 15-member Council in June, a growing number of ceasefire violations – averaging over 100 per day between June 2024 and May 2025 – highlight the fragile state of the region.  

Government-aligned forces fortified positions in anticipation of a possible offensive on the city, while Houthi units increased infiltration attempts and public mobilisation, including military-style youth camps in areas they control.

Security Council unanimously adopts Resolution 2786 (2025) extending until 28 January 2026 the mandate of the UN Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA).

Deadly Red Sea passage

Compounding this, Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea have intensified. On 8 July, the commercial vessel Eternity C was sunk, killing several crew members and leaving others missing. This followed the sinking of the Magic Seas vessel two days earlier.

In a statement, UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg condemned the attacks, calling them violations of international maritime law and warning they risked serious environmental and geopolitical fallout.

He called on Ansar Allah to cease attacks that risk escalating tensions in and around Yemen.

“[He urges them] to build on the cessation of hostilities with the United States in the Red Sea and to provide durable guarantees to the region and the wider international community, ensuring the safety of all those using this critical waterway,” the statement noted.

Significant operational constraints

Within Hudaydah itself, UNMHA faces significant constraints.  

The June letter by the Secretary-General details restrictions by Houthi authorities on UN patrols to the critical Red Sea ports – Hudaydah, Salif and Ras Issa.

Damage from repeated airstrikes, including by the US and Israel in response to Houthi attacks, has left key port infrastructure partially inoperable, disrupting fuel, food and medical imports.

With Hudaydah responsible for 70 per cent of Yemen’s commercial imports and 80 per cent of humanitarian deliveries, the stakes are high.

© UNICEF/Mahmoud Alfilastini

A child receives a polio vaccination in Yemen.

Polio vaccination drive

Meanwhile, a new round of polio vaccinations is underway in Government-controlled areas of southern Yemen, amid mounting concerns over the continued spread of the virus.  

From 12 to 14 July, health workers deployed across 12 governorates, aimed at curbing the outbreak of variant type 2 poliovirus.

The campaign, led by Yemen’s Ministry of Public Health with support from UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and World Health Organization (WHO), came as 282 cases have been reported since 2021, with environmental surveillance confirming ongoing transmission.

“The campaign is essential to interrupt transmission and protect every child from the debilitating effects of polio,” said Ferima Coulibaly-Zerbo, acting WHO Representative in Yemen.

UNICEF’s Peter Hawkins echoed the urgency, warning of the “imminent threat” to unvaccinated children if immunisation gaps persist.

“But, through vaccination, we can keep our children safe,” he said.

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Yemen deserves hope and dignity, Security Council hears

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For over a decade, Yemen has endured conflict between Houthi rebels and government forces. Millions of lives and livelihoods remain at risk, and the conflict shows no sign of ending.

“The appetite for a military escalation remains,” Hans Grundberg, UN Special Envoy for Yemen, told ambassadors.

While violence remains an immediate threat, he noted that the economy has now become the “most active frontline” of the conflict: the national currency in free fall and purchasing power rapidly declining, poverty is a daily threat.

“The little money people do have in their pockets is either falling in value or literally falling apart,” he said.

Currently, 17 million people face food insecurity – a number that could rise to 18 million by September without swift and expanded humanitarian aid.  More than one million children under the age of five are suffering from life-threatening malnutrition, putting them at risk of permanent physical and cognitive harm.

“We haven’t seen this level of deprivation since before the UN-brokered truce in early 2022,” said Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs.

Regional instability deepens the crisis

Broader instability in the Middle East has further worsened Yemen’s situation, Mr. Grundberg said, pointing to recent attacks by Ansar Allah (as the Houthi rebels are formally called) on commercial ships in the Red Sea and retaliatory strikes by Israel on key Yemeni infrastructure, including ports and a power station.

“Yemen must not be drawn deeper into the regional crisis that threatens to unravel the already extremely fragile situation in the country. The stakes for Yemen are simply too high,” he said.

Nevertheless, he noted that the ceasefire between Iran and Israel did spark hope that momentum for negotiations in Yemen might resume.

Still, he stressed that Yemen’s peace process must solely depend on regional dynamics.

“Yemen must advance regardless, moving from simply managing shocks and volatility to developing practical steps that lay the groundwork for lasting solutions,” he said.

Negotiations must prevail

Without meaningful peace negotiations, Yemen’s humanitarian crisis will only deepen, Mr. Grundberg warned.

“A military solution remains a dangerous solution that risks deepening Yemen’s suffering,” he said.

He highlighted recent progress in Taiz governorate, where both parties agreed to jointly manage water supplies – a move that will provide safe drinking water to over 600,000 people.

This agreement also promotes sustainable water access, reducing reliance on humanitarian aid.

“While negotiations may not be easy, they offer the best hope for addressing, in a sustainable and long-term manner, the complexity of the conflict,” Mr. Grundberg said.

Call for international support

Mr. Grundberg called on the Security Council to continue prioritizing Yemen.

He also reiterated UN calls for all detained humanitarians, including UN staff, and called on donors to ensure sufficient funding to sustain aid organizations on the ground.

“Yemen’s future depends on our collective resolve to shield it from further suffering and to give its people the hope and dignity they so deeply deserve,” Mr. Grundberg said.

Yemen: Nearly half the population facing acute food insecurity in some southern areas

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Yemen remains trapped in a prolonged political, humanitarian and development crisis, after enduring years of conflict between government forces and Houthi rebels, with populations in the south of the country now facing a growing food insecurity crisis.

A partial update released Monday by the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system – which ranks food insecurity from Phase 1 to famine conditions, or Phase 5 – paints a grim picture.

Starting in May 2025, around 4.95 million people have been facing crisis-level food insecurity or worse (Phase 3+), including 1.5 million facing emergency-level food insecurity (Phase 4).

These numbers mark an increase of 370,000 people suffering from severe food insecurity compared to the period from November 2024 to February 2025.

Further deterioration

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned that “looking ahead, the situation [was] expected to deteriorate further,” with 420,000 people potentially falling into crisis-level food insecurity or worse.

This would bring the total number of severely food-insecure people in southern governorate areas to 5.38 million – more than half the population.

Multiple compounded crises – such as sustained economic decline, currency depreciation in southern governorates, conflict, and increasingly severe weather – are driving food insecurity in Yemen.

High-risk areas

Amid Yemen’s growing food crisis, humanitarian agencies including WFP, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are reorienting their efforts towards high-risk areas, delivering integrated support across food security, nutrition, sanitation, health, and protection to maximise life-saving impact.

“The fact that more and more people in Yemen don’t know where their next meal will come from is extremely concerning at a time when we are experiencing unprecedented funding challenges,” said Siemon Hollema, Deputy Country Director of WFP in Yemen.

Immediate support needed

WFP, UNICEF and FAO are urgently calling for sustained and large-scale humanitarian and livelihood assistance to prevent communities from falling deeper into food insecurity, and to ensure that the UN “can continue to serve the most vulnerable families that have nowhere else to turn,” he said.

Internally displaced persons, low-income rural households, and vulnerable children are particularly affected, and are now facing increased vulnerability, as approximately 2.4 million children under the age of five and 1.5 million pregnant and lactating women are currently suffering from acute malnutrition.

The situation is dire, but with urgent support, “we can revitalise local food production, safeguard livelihoods, and move from crisis to resilience building, ensuring efficiency and impact,” said FAO Representative in Yemen, Dr. Hussain Gadain.

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Yemen at breaking point as UN envoy urges action to end suffering

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Speaking via videoconference, UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg said the country remains trapped in a prolonged political, humanitarian and development crisis.

“Yemen is so much more than the containment of a threat,” he said. “The cost of inaction is high.”

Mr. Grundberg stressed the urgent need for progress towards a sustainable political solution, calling on all parties to show the will to move beyond the current deadlock.

Meanwhile, over 17 million people, nearly half of Yemen’s population, are estimated to be suffering acute malnutrition.

Without sustained humanitarian support, six million more could face emergency levels of food insecurity, said Joyce Msuya, Assistant Secretary-General of UN humanitarian wing (OCHA), speaking on behalf of Humanitarian Affairs chief Tom Fletcher.

Economic hardships

“Yemeni citizens continue to shoulder the impact of an economy in freefall,” said Mr. Grundberg, calling for more international support to alleviate the humanitarian and economic hardships they face.

Despite operating under extremely difficult conditions, humanitarian efforts in Yemen continue, but the UN’s response remains constrained and far from meeting the scale of need, according to OCHA.

Still, there are signs of progress. “There is real scope to make progress on the economy,” said Special Envoy Hans Grundberg, pointing to the reopening last May of a key road between Aden and Sana’a, closed for nearly seven years, which has restored a faster and more direct route for civilians and commercial traffic.

“With trust and the right tools, there remains hope,” said Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Joyce Msuya.

Fragile frontlines

Marking one year since the arbitrary detention by Houthi rebels – or Ansar Allah – of dozens of aid workers, civil society representatives and diplomatic personnel, Mr Grundberg urged Security Council members to use their “powerful voices” to exert maximum pressure on the group for the unconditional release of the detainees.

While attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and counter measures by Western forces have largely abated since a cessation of hostilities agreement between the United States and the Houthi leadership, the group has launched several recent attacks targeting Israel, in solidarity with the Palestinian cause in Gaza.

With multiple frontlines still fragile and the risk of renewed fighting ever-present, the UN continues to work on a roadmap to help Yemen move beyond its divisions, secure a comprehensive ceasefire, implement critical economic measures and advance an inclusive political process.

UN calls for ‘immediate and unconditional’ release of aid workers arbitrarily detained in Yemen

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In a statement on Monday, António Guterres strongly condemned the death in detention of a World Food Programme (WFP) staff member earlier this year.

The Houthis have yet to provide “an explanation for this deplorable tragedy,” António Guterres said, renewing his call for “an immediate, transparent and thorough investigation and accountability.”

Profound injustice

“The UN and its humanitarian partners should never be targeted, arrested or detained while carrying out their mandates for the benefit of the people they serve,” said the UN chief.

These detentions have further constrained the UN’s ability to operate effectively in Yemen and have “undermined mediation efforts to secure a path toward peace,” he added.

These detentions have further constrained the UN’s ability to operate effectively in Yemen and have “undermined mediation efforts to secure a path toward peace,” he added.

Safe and immediate release

Making the occasion of Eid Al-Adha this Friday, “a time to show compassion,” the Secretary-General urged the Houthis to “immediately release those arbitrarily detained” and “end the ordeal of families who face celebrating yet another holiday without their loved ones.”

“I renew my call for their immediate and unconditional release, including those held since 2021 and 2023, and most recently this January,” Mr. Guterres said.

“You are not forgotten,” he added, addressing the detained aid workers, assuring them that the UN will continue to work through all possible channels to secure their safe and immediate release.

He also welcomed the support of international partners, NGOs and all those working to support the people of Yemen, urging Member States to express solidarity with those detained and “intensify advocacy towards their release.” 

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Yemen: UN warns against Houthi-Israel escalation, calls for dialogue

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On Wednesday, Israel launched airstrikes on Yemen’s main airport in the capital, Sana’a, destroying the last operational Yemenia Airways plane, according to media reports.

The attack came a day after the Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, fired missiles at Israel.  

Fragile situation worsening

In Yemen, the rebels have been fighting with Government troops, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, for over a decade. But since the start of the war in Gaza they have been targeting Israel as well as commercial ships in the Red Sea, as an act of solidarity with Palestinians.

“The ongoing military confrontation between the Houthis and Israel is exacerbating an already very fragile situation in Yemen and the broader region,”  said UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric.

“Attacks on civilian infrastructure, including Sana’a airport in Yemen and Ben Gurion Airport in Israel, are unacceptable.”

He said the strike on Sana’a airport and the destruction of the civilian aircraft “deprives many Yemenis of a critical means to leave the country for medical, educational, family or religious regions, especially at a time when thousands of pilgrims are preparing for the Hajj.”

De-escalation and dialogue

The Spokesman called on all stakeholders, including the Houthis, to de-escalate and exercise restraint, uphold their obligations under international law, and protect civilian infrastructure.                                     

He also urged the warring parties to return to the intra-Yemeni dialogue, with the support of the region, as the only viable path toward lasting peace and security.

In related developments, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen concluded a visit to Oman’s capital Muscat on Wednesday, his office said in a statement.

Hans Grundberg met senior Omani officials, members of Ansar Allah leadership and representatives of the diplomatic community, including senior Iranian officials. 

“Discussions focused on the cessation of hostilities between the United States and Ansar Allah and the need to translate this into sustainable progress that benefits all Yemenis and includes guarantees for the region and international community,” the statement said.

The ceasefire agreement was brokered by Oman and came into effect on 6 May following the resumption of deadly US airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.

Free detained personnel

Mr. Grundberg further addressed regional dynamics and the shared responsibility of all to support de-escalation and a UN-led political process for a durable and comprehensive resolution to the conflict in Yemen. 

As the Houthis continue to arbitrarily detain scores of personnel from the UN, non-governmental organizations, civil society and diplomatic missions, the Special Envoy called for their immediate and unconditional release in all his engagements.

“He stressed that their prolonged detention is not only unjustifiable but undermines the UN’s and international community’s ability to provide humanitarian support to millions of Yemenis,” the statement said. 

Urgent action needed to ‘pull Yemen back from the brink of catastrophe’

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Tom Fletcher said that with “time and treatment” Noor was able to recover fully.

But what happens to a child such as Noor when treatments are limited and time runs out?

A group of 116 aid organizations, including 10 UN agencies, called on Tuesday for “urgent, collective action” to prevent Yemen from descending into a humanitarian catastrophe.

They warned that without such action, specifically increased funding, their ability to provide life-saving assistance will be severely curtailed.

“Without immediate action, the vital gains achieved through years of dedicated assistance could be lost,” they said.

Non-stop crises

For more than a decade, Yemen has endured a series of crises – armed conflicts, climate disasters and economic decay. As a result, close to 20 million depend on humanitarian aid to survive and five million are internally displaced.

Half of all Yemeni children – some 2.3 million – are malnourished. Over 600,000 are severely malnourished, like Noor. Malnutrition also impacts over 1.4 million pregnant women, creating an intergenerational cycle.

The healthcare system is also in disrepair, with Yemen accounting for more than one-third of cholera cases worldwide and 18 per cent of related deaths. 20 per cent of children under the age of one are fully unvaccinated.

Providing humanitarian aid in Yemen has also come with extreme difficulties for aid workers, with some being arbitrarily detained, including UN staffers.

Strikes against the Hodeida port and Sana’a Airport have also damaged vital humanitarian pathways for food and medicine.

Time and treatment running out

The aid community’s call for urgent action comes amidst extensive funding shortages. The Yemen Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan is less than 10 per cent funded.

“We urgently appeal to donors to scale up flexible, timely, and predictable funding for the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan,” the aid organizations said.

Already, the UN and aid partners are working to minimize operational costs while maximizing aid provision and there is no doubt suffering will increase due to the reduction in aid.

In the first quarter of 2025, over five million people in Yemen received emergency food assistance, 1.2 million received clean water and sanitation services and 154,000 children were able to resume their education.

But without immediate funding, Emergency Relief Coordinator Fletcher estimates that there will be gaps in this aid as early as June or July.

Nearly 400 health facilities will be forced to stop operating, including 64 hospitals, which will impact over 7 million individuals. Funding for more than 700 midwives is also quickly drying up.

Call to the international community

While the humanitarian crisis in Yemen has been overshadowed by other vast humanitarian crises in Gaza and Sudan among other places, the 116 aid organizations emphasized that “donor support saves lives.”

The 7th Humanitarian Senior Officials Meeting will be held Wednesday and should be a moment to work to avoid catastrophe in Yemen, the aid organizations urged.

“Now more than ever, swift and resolute support is crucial to prevent Yemen from sliding deeper into crisis and move towards a lasting peace,” they said.

Time and treatment are running out for children like Noor.

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US-Houthi ceasefire ‘a welcome opportunity’ to advance peace efforts in Yemen

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Ambassadors were briefed by the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, who commended Oman for its efforts to achieve the agreement which came into effect on 6 May.

He said the cessation of hostilities represented an important and necessary de-escalation in the Red Sea following the resumption of deadly US airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.

Resolve the conflict

However, recent events show that the country is still ensnared in wider regional tensions, he said, pointing to Houthi attacks on Ben Gurion Airport in Israel and Israel’s subsequent strikes on Hudaydah Port, Sana’a Airport, and other locations.

“Nevertheless, the announcement of 6 May provides a welcome opportunity on which we must collectively build to refocus on resolving Yemen’s conflict and advancing a Yemeni-owned peace process,” he said.

The Houthis, also known as Ansar Allah, and Yemeni Government forces, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, have been battling for control of the country for more than a decade.

‘Yemenis want to move forward’ 

“The challenges facing Yemen are immense: from the deep and significant levels of mistrust between the parties, with some still reportedly preparing for war, to near economic collapse,” Mr. Grundberg told the Council

He said the UN will continue to work to bring the sides to the table to identify and agree on solutions that are acceptable to all.

“Yemenis want to move forward – the status quo is untenable,” he insisted.  “And while the frontlines may currently appear relatively stable, what Yemen has now is not peace.”

He stressed the need for continued engagement by the international community to help the Yemeni people realize their desire to build a stable, prosperous and safe country.

Release detained staff

Mr. Grundberg used the briefing to again highlight the plight of personnel from the UN, international and national NGOs, civil society and diplomatic missions, who continue to be arbitrarily detained by the Houthis.

“Not only is their detention in violation of international law, but it has also caused a significant chilling effect throughout the international community, which only has one outcome: undermining support to Yemen, which will sadly impact the Yemenis most in need,” he said.

He welcomed the recent release of staff members from the Dutch Embassy and international organization, saying “this demonstrates what is possible, but these releases are woefully insufficient.”

Message to the people

The Special Envoy concluded his remarks by stating that Yemenis have endured over 10 years of instability, uncertainty and economic collapse.

Speaking directly to the population, he reiterated that “I see you. I hear you. You have not been forgotten – and I won’t relent in my efforts to pursue peace and stability in Yemen.”

He urged the warring parties “to be courageous and choose dialogue,” emphasizing that “the United Nations will not waiver in its commitment to support you in finding a negotiated settlement to this conflict.”

A mother holds her 10-month-old girl who is suffering from stunting and malnutrition in Abyan, Yemen.

Humanitarians ‘running out of time’: Fletcher

UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, who also briefed the Council, shared the Special Envoy’s relief at the cessation of hostilities in Yemen.

He stressed, however, that “Yemen is not out of the woods” as the humanitarian situation is deteriorating, with children most affected. 

“Half of Yemen’s children – or 2.3 million – are malnourished. 600,000 of them severely so,” he said.

Childhood killers on the rise

Moreover, “malnutrition is not just about hunger,” he added, as it attacks immunity, leaving children vulnerable to deadly infections like pneumonia and diarrhoea – both leading causes of child mortality in Yemen. 

The country also has one of the worst immunisation rates in the world as only 69 per cent of children under a year old are fully immunized and 20 per cent have received no vaccinations at all.

As a result, diseases such as cholera and measles are rising.  In 2024, Yemen accounted for over a third of global cholera cases and 18 per cent of related deaths, in addition to having one of the highest measles burdens globally.

“Children are not alone in being disproportionately impacted,” said Mr. Fletcher, as malnutrition also affects 1.4 million pregnant and breastfeeding women in Yemen, placing mothers and newborns at grave risk. 

Overall, some 9.6 million women and girls are in severe need of life-saving humanitarian support, he said.

Appeal to the Council

He warned, however, that humanitarians “are running out of time and resources” as their 2025 response plan for Yemen is barely nine per cent funded.

“These shortfalls have very real consequences,” he said. “Nearly 400 health facilities – including 64 hospitals – will stop operating, impacting nearly seven million people.” 

Meanwhile, funding for 700 midwives is quickly running out and 20 therapeutic feeding centres and more than 2,000 therapeutic feeding programmes have already been forced to close down. 

Mr. Fletcher made three requests to the Council, calling first for action to ensure respect for international humanitarian law, including protection of civilians as well as access to all those in need.

He urged ambassadors to also provide scaled-up, flexible funding to sustain critical aid operations.

“Third, and as the Special Envoy has underlined, back efforts towards lasting peace,” he concluded. 

World News in Brief: Deadly attacks in South Sudan and Ukraine, World Court rejects Sudan case, lifesaving aid in Yemen

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According to the UN relief coordination office (OCHA), the hospital in Old Fangak was struck early Saturday, killing seven civilians and injuring at least 20 more. The attack also destroyed vital supplies and forced the withdrawal of aid workers, leaving the town’s population without access to critical care.

“People in these areas are already battling flooding, food shortages and disease,” said Marie-Helene Verney, the UN’s acting Humanitarian Coordinator in South Sudan.

Too many lives at risk

“The destruction of critical health infrastructure and continued fighting puts innocent South Sudanese lives at risk.”

The bombing follows a wave of similar attacks in Upper Nile state, where health facilities in Ulang and Nasir have been targeted in recent months. The latest strike has heightened fears of renewed conflict as political and ethnic tensions rise nationwide.

The UN is now airlifting essential supplies to the area, but access remains limited. The violence has displaced over 130,000 people in the past two months, and aid agencies warn that South Sudan’s broader $1.7 billion humanitarian plan remains only 16 per cent funded.

Large scale attacks on densely populated cities across Ukraine

The UN’s top humanitarian official in Ukraine on Monday condemned a series of Russian strikes this weekend on densely populated towns and cities.

Between Friday and Monday, at least 12 people were killed and more than 100 others injured in attacks thar targeted Kharkiv, Kyiv and Cherkasy, and other regions in Ukraine.

These attacks also damaged homes, schools, a hospital and other civilian infrastructure, according to local authorities and partners, UN Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq told journalists in New York.

In the aftermath of the strikes, “humanitarian organizations provided first aid, psychosocial support, emergency shelter kits, repair materials, meals and drinks,” Mr. Haq said.

In the Kharkiv region, a fire triggered by a strike near the city of Izium on Sunday, burned 85 hectares of land and damaged over a dozen buildings. There were no casualties reported, Mr. Haq added.

Meanwhile, UN agencies alongside partners reached 600,000 people so far this year with first aid, medical transport, primary care and mental health support, including at transit centres for displaced people.

An IOM-supported health worker in Yemen accesses medical supplies.

Yemen: UN delivers lifesaving medical supplies

The UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Monday delivered critical medical supplies to seven health facilities in Yemen, where a collapsing health system and chronic shortages continue to endanger millions.

With support from the Government of the United Kingdom, IOM shipments are reaching hospitals and clinics in Aden, Lahj, Shabwah, Al Bayda and Sana’a – facilities serving both migrants and local communities.

“Every day, our teams see the impact of empty medicine shelves and overwhelmed clinics, on families and entire communities,” said Abdusattor Esoev, head of IOM in Yemen.

“By delivering essential supplies and supporting frontline staff, we are not just responding to urgent needs – we are keeping health services running for those who have nowhere else to turn.”

Crisis on crisis

The intervention comes amid an alarming health crisis.

Nearly 20 million people in Yemen require medical assistance in 2025, but over half of the country’s health facilities are only partially functioning or have shut down altogether. Funding gaps have left 382 facilities unsupported, forcing many to close or drastically cut services.

IOM’s assistance includes essential medicines, surgical equipment and infection prevention tools, as well as infrastructure repairs and support for health workers.

For many in the strife-torn country, IOM-supported clinics remain the only source of free medical care.

ICJ rejects Sudan’s genocide case against UAE

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has rejected Sudan’s case accusing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of complicity in genocide in Darfur, citing a lack of jurisdiction.

In the decision, the UN’s top judicial body ruled on Monday by a vote of 14 to two that it could not proceed with the case brought by Sudan under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention) and declined to impose any provisional measures, as Sudan had requested.

The Court also removed the case from its general list by a vote of nine to seven.

“Having come to the conclusion that it manifestly lacks jurisdiction, the Court is precluded from taking any position on the merits of the claims made by Sudan,” the ruling stated.

Complicity charge

Sudan had accused the UAE of backing the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), alleging its support amounted to complicity in genocidal acts against the non-Arab Masalit population in West Darfur.

The conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese army has claimed thousands of lives and displaced over 12.7 million people since April 2023.

The Court noted that while it could not hear the case, all States remain bound by their obligations under the Genocide Convention.

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What is Cyclone Sagar?

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Indian Met Department has issued an alert to Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, Maharasthra and the Lakshadweep over the cyclone ‘Sagar’, which is building up over the Arabian Sea with potential to hit the coastal region of northern Indian Ocean on Saturday.

Formerly known as 01A, Tropical Cyclone Sagar, quickly formed in the Indian Ocean and strengthened into a tropical storm on May 16 at 3:35 a.m. IST as shown in the resolution imaging captured by the spectroradiometer aboard NASA’s Aqua satellite.

It showed thunderstorms at minus 80 degrees Celsius, which means very strong storms with a potential for heavy rainfall in the Arabian Sea with maximum sustained winds near 46 miles per hour (40 knots). Located near 13.0 degrees north latitude and 48.6 degrees east longitude, or approximately 229 nautical miles east of Aden, Yemen.

When captured NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite appeared more organized and has been strengthening since May 17. On Friday, May 18 the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument aboard NASA-NOAA’s Suomi NPP satellite captured a true-color image of Tropical Cyclone Sagar showing the center above the Gulf of Aden, affecting Yemen and Somalia.

At 1:30 p.m IST, the Tropical Cyclone Sagar was centered near 11.6 degrees north latitude and 45.9 degrees east longitude, approximately 89 nautical miles southeast of Aden, Yemen, registering maximum sustained winds up at 69 mph (50 knots/111 kph). Currently, Sagar is moving to the west-southwest at 6.9 mph (6 knots/11.1 kph).

Sagar is likely to threaten Yemen, Somalia and Djibouti with waves as high as 17 feet, before hitting the Indian west coast on Saturday. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an advisory that said: “Strong winds reaching upto 75-85 kmph and 95 kmph covering the Gulf of Aden and adjoining south-western Arabian Sea area are very likely duting the next 12 hours. It may then gradually decrease ato 65-75 kmph during the next 12 hours.”

Fishermen are advised not to venture into the high seas of the Gulf of Aden or west-central and south-west Arabian Sea in the next 48 hours.