UNSC Monthly Meeting on Yemen

(23 August 2021; 1000 hrs)

Statement by Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti

Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations

-----

  I thank Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari and Under Secretary-General Martin Griffiths for their briefings. I thank Executive Director of UNICEF Henrietta Fore for sharing her insights on the situation of children in Yemen. I also welcome the presence of the Permanent Representative of Yemen to the United Nations in this meeting.

2. The continued military escalation in Marib has triggered counter-offensive operations in other provinces of Yemen. Violent clashes continue to rage along multiple frontlines across Yemen, which have undermined prospects of peace in the country. We call on all parties to refrain from military action that could lead to further escalation of hostilities. We also reiterate the importance of the full implementation of the Stockholm and Riyadh Agreements, which is an essential requirement for maintaining calm and stability in Yemen. Countries in the region are encouraged to continue their efforts and we support efforts in this direction.

3. While the security situation remains precarious, the humanitarian situation worsens with every passing day.  The recent rise in COVID-19 infections and deaths has triggered fears of a third wave of the pandemic. The recent torrential rains and widespread flooding have resulted in loss of life and property, and consequently worsened the humanitarian situation in the country. All these developments only underscore the need for regular, predictable and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance and adequate funding for humanitarian operations on an urgent basis. India calls for enhanced and effective humanitarian assistance to the Yemeni population throughout the country without any discrimination.

4. We heard from Executive Director of UNICEF about the grave impact of the protracted conflict on Yemeni children. Women and children have suffered the most during these long years of the conflict in Yemen. Around 1.7 million children have been uprooted from their homes and displaced, multiple times. The ongoing conflict has also deprived them of access to immediate basic medical care, safe water and sanitation. Education of children in Yemen has also been severely disrupted. Forcible recruitment of children and their indoctrination through camps remains a cause for concern.  If this situation continues, it will have long-lasting impacts on an entire generation in Yemen, as well as on the future of Yemen.

5. The recent oil spill created by oil tanker DIA off the coast of Aden is a pertinent reminder for the urgent redressal of the situation surrounding the SAFER tanker. An oil spill in the Red Sea as a result of SAFER’s dilapidated condition would have a far more serious and long-lasting environmental and humanitarian impact on Yemen and the region. We therefore strongly support the call for urgent access to SAFER tanker for the UN team.

6. The time has come for the international community, in particular this Council, to step up its efforts for an immediate cessation of hostilities. As a long-standing friend of Yemen with historic ties that have been nurtured and strengthened over centuries, India reiterates its call for an urgent nationwide ceasefire followed by a robust and inclusive political process with full respect for Yemen’s unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. Only such an approach can result in enduring peace in Yemen.

7. In this regard, we welcome the appointment of Hans Grundberg of Sweden as the new UN Special Envoy to Yemen and hope that he will infuse new momentum to the negotiations which have currently reached a stalemate. We urge all parties in Yemen to immediately end the fighting and engage with the Special Envoy in good faith without any preconditions, for the well-being of Yemeni people.

I thank you.

****