Ms. Edem Wosornu, Director of Operations and Advocacy, OCHA, on behalf of Mr. Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator - Briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Yemen

MS. EDEM WOSORNU, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND ADVOCACY, OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS, ON BEHALF OF MR. MARTIN GRIFFITHS, UNDER-SECRETARY-GENERAL FOR HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS AND EMERGENCY RELIEF COORDINATOR Briefing to the Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Yemen
15 April 2024

As prepared for delivery

Thank you, Madam President.

And allow me to thank UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, for his update and for his continued, tireless efforts to help the people of Yemen reach a lasting peace.

This month marks two years since the United Nations-brokered truce was announced, which provided precious relief for the humanitarian situation long past its expiry: lower numbers of civilian casualties. Eased trade restrictions and increased imports of essential items. Increased road and air connections. And some displaced people have been able to return to their homes.

The crisis in and near the Red Sea continues to threaten progress and stability. For now, we are thankful that we have still not seen major implications for the humanitarian situation to date.

As is well known, the main causes of large-scale needs in Yemen – in particular, the deteriorating economy, barely functioning public services, and protracted conflict-induced displacement – are yet to be addressed. Public services and institutions have continued to degrade, and economic indicators remain worrisome.

The re-emergence of cholera, and growing levels of severe malnutrition, are telling indicators of the weakened capacity of social services. Almost one in every two children under five are stunted – more than double the global average (49 per cent compared to 21.3 per cent).

The most vulnerable people, including women and girls, marginalised groups such as the Muhamasheen, internally displaced people, migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, and persons with disabilities, still depend on humanitarian assistance to survive.

And as we have often briefed the Council, humanitarians continue to operate in a very difficult environment. From December to February, aid agencies reported 137 access constraints. The majority were interference in humanitarian programming and movement restrictions in areas controlled by the Houthi de facto authorities – in particular, for Yemeni women aid workers.

I saw the impacts of these restrictions firsthand when I visited Yemen in March. Inter-governorate movements of our Yemeni women colleagues were denied in Houthi-controlled areas in the absence of a male guardian, limiting our engagement with women and girls.

In areas controlled by the Government of Yemen, insecurity and fragmented administrative requirements, including for the approval of sub-agreements, continue to delay our response.

And lastly, we continue to struggle with a concerning deficit in funding for the 2024 Humanitarian Response Plan. Despite extensive work by the humanitarian community to prioritize the response and reduce the financial ask to $2.7 billion from $4.3 billion in 2023, the plan is only 10 per cent funded as we enter the second quarter of the year.

Madam President,

As we have previously briefed the Council, the humanitarian community is transforming our response to adapt to shifting realities in Yemen.

This transformation is taking place in different ways.

We are promoting a locally driven response and more sustainable solutions for the people of Yemen, in close collaboration with our development partners and affected communities.

We are reviewing the way we operate in Yemen to ensure we remain fit for purpose and able to meet emerging challenges.

We are working to further improve targeting to more effectively direct assistance to those most in need. The World Food Programme’s ongoing retargeting efforts, which I will discuss in more detail shortly, are a critical first step.

We are redoubling efforts to ensure a principled and measured approach to humanitarian action and expand operational space, and actively advocating against politicization of our work.

And we are pursuing more structured engagement with all parties and seeking systemic solutions to persistent challenges.

Madam President,

I would like to provide more detail about two of the most urgent issues for the humanitarian situation today – cholera and food and nutrition insecurity.

Since October last year, we have seen an alarming resurgence of cholera across the country.

The response in Government-controlled areas, led by the Government with the support of the humanitarian community, has slowed the spread of the disease and ensured the availability of treatment for people affected. This work was boosted by a Yemen Humanitarian Fund allocation in November and generous donor support for the outbreak response.
However, since March, we have seen the outbreak spread rapidly in areas controlled by the Houthi de facto authorities. As of 7 April, more than 11,000 suspected cases have been reported in these areas with 75 associated deaths (compared with approximately 3,200 suspected cases in Government controlled areas since October).

As shown by the success in curbing the outbreak in Government-controlled areas, a rapid response is critical.

The United Nations and our humanitarian partners are working closely with relevant authorities to scale up the response. However, emergency stocks of essential supplies are almost depleted. And water, sanitation and hygiene support systems need urgent strengthening.

We appeal to the international community to help us to fill these urgent gaps – including critical funding and supplies.

Madam President,

We have repeatedly voiced our strong concerns about food and nutrition insecurity in Yemen this year.

Ramadan and Eid festivities have seen some small, temporary, but welcome relief, with zakat (Islamic charity obligations), remittances and community-led mechanisms providing more people with access to essential items and the ability to purchase food in markets.

However, we expect food and nutrition security to worsen further as the lean season begins in the coming weeks.
Our efforts to address the situation continue apace.

The World Food Programme’s pilot retargeting exercise is now underway in Houthi-controlled areas, and we expect to see positive results by the end of the month.

Until food assistance starts flowing, the Humanitarian Country Team and partners are doing what they can to mitigate the most severe impacts of the pause in general food assistance and protect the most vulnerable.

Nutrition interventions will be scaled up in 34 districts assessed to be the worst affected. With the support of a $6 million allocation from the Yemen Humanitarian Fund, NGOs will distribute pre-positioned nutrition supplies in these districts.

Yet needs remain tremendous, and the United Nations and humanitarian partners require significantly more to keep hunger at bay.

Madam President,

Yemen needs three things today.

First, we must keep front of mind how easily progress achieved since the truce could be lost and how much more there is to do in a complex operating environment. I urge the Security Council to redouble its efforts to secure lasting peace and stability in Yemen.

Second, with food and malnutrition rates rising and the cholera outbreak quickly worsening, we must be able to act quickly to minimize suffering and prevent further deterioration of conditions. The active, united support of Council Members is crucial to create an enabling environment to help us carry out this vital work.

And finally, I urge Council Members to do what they can to provide urgently needed funding to the aid programme in Yemen – to ensure the well-being of millions of people and support the steps the humanitarian community is taking to improve the effectiveness of our response.

In closing, allow me to warmly wish Eid Mubarak to all those who celebrate, in Yemen and around the world.
Thank you.