UNSC Meeting on the Situation in the Middle East (Yemen)

(February 15, 2022; 1500 hrs)

Statement by Ambassador T.S. Tirumurti

Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations

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Thank you, Mr. President. I thank Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and Under-Secretary General Martin Griffiths for their briefing. I also thank Ambassador Ferit Hoxha, the Chair of 2140 Committee, for his briefing on the activities of the Committee. India attaches great importance to the work of the Committee and to the work of the Panel of Experts supporting it and we look forward to the renewal of mandate of the Committee and the Panel.

Mr. President,

2. India has been closely following the fast-paced developments in Yemen with deep concern. The number of fatalities are mounting and the escalation of the conflict is jeopardizing the chances of a ceasefire. I reiterate India’s consistent call for immediate de-escalation of the conflict followed by a nationwide ceasefire. It is our considered view that the conflict can only be resolved through dialogue and not on the battlefield.

3. It is also of serious concern to us that Yemen’s conflict is creating ripple-effects on security and stability in the entire Gulf region. Around 9 million Indians live and work in the Gulf region. Their well-being and safety is of paramount importance to us. We strongly condemn the continued cross-border missile and drone attacks into the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia that have resulted in the death and injury of innocent civilians, including Indian nationals. Two Indian nationals died in the attack on UAE on January 17, while on February 10 one Indian was injured in the attack on Abha airport in Saudi Arabia. The deliberate escalation of the conflict outside of Yemen’s borders and the heightened provocative rhetoric by Ansarallah is deplorable. Instead of moving towards a solution to the conflict, such actions by Ansarallah only exacerbate it.

4. The conflict has also spilled over to the maritime domain. The recent report of the 2140 Panel of Experts documents various attacks and dangerous approaches towards shipping and commercial vessels in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Oman emanating from Yemen. We are also witnessing arbitrary seizures and detention of shipping vessels. India is deeply worried by this trend, which threatens not only the safe passage of commercial vessels, but also maritime security in the region. I reiterate this Council’s unanimous call for urgent release of the crew members of vessel Rwabee, whose onboard crew includes 7 Indians. They continue to be detained unlawfully. Regular access to them, as well as, updates on their condition must be ensured by Ansarallah, till their release.

5. The assumption of duties by Major General Michael Beary as the Head of UN Mission to support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) is timely. We hope that his extensive engagement with all parties in recent weeks will result in the reactivation of Redeployment Coordination Committee and its joint mechanisms to implement the Hudaydah Agreement.

Mr. President,

6. The disruption of key pillars of Yemen’s economy has also contributed to the worsening of economic and humanitarian crisis in the country.

7. In the absence of a political solution to the conflict, the humanitarian aid operations have been a lifeline for millions of Yemenis. We are worried that these aid operations are now at risk due to severe funding shortfalls. Yemeni women and children are bearing the brunt of the closure or scaling down of major UN aid programs. We hope that donor funding would be enhanced to support the 2022 UN Humanitarian Response Plan for Yemen.

8. A sustainable solution to the unfolding humanitarian crisis lies in concrete short-term and long-term economic measures that benefit the people of Yemen. OCHA’s economic framework for Yemen identifies such measures, which needs immediate implementation. International support – political and financial – is essential for their implementation.

Mr. President,

9. We once again call on all parties to renounce military confrontations and make concrete efforts towards establishing enduring peace in Yemen. The aspirations of the Yemeni people and their hopes for peace, stability and prosperity should be the focus of these efforts. I reaffirm India’s steadfast commitment to a Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process with the goal of achieving an inclusive and peacefully negotiated settlement to the conflict.

10. Quiet and constructive diplomacy is the need of the hour. Actions that fuel tensions and intensify the conflict further must be eschewed by all sides in the larger interest of establishing conducive conditions for a political dialogue. In this context, we appreciate the efforts of Special Envoy Grundberg in reaching out to all parties to the conflict to get them to the negotiating table to restart the political process. Parties should engage with the Special Envoy unconditionally and constructively.

11. We also encourage the Special Envoy to continue his coordination with regional countries, as their cooperation would be critical in reaching a long-lasting sustainable solution to the Yemeni conflict. Countries in the region with influence on Yemeni parties must also exert sincere efforts to restore peace and order in Yemen, as this is in the shared interests of everyone.

12. Let me conclude by reiterating India’s call for an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire across Yemen followed by a robust and inclusive political process. Such a process should also fully respect Yemen’s unity, sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity. We believe that with effective Yemeni, regional, international and UN leadership, a lasting and inclusive political settlement in Yemen is achievable.

I thank you, Mr. President.

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