On January 15, 2025, the UN Security Council convened to discuss developments in Yemen. Joyce Msuya, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, reported alarming humanitarian consequences due to ongoing conflicts affecting civilians.
Msuya highlighted that recent airstrikes by Israel on Hudaydah and Sana'a resulted in numerous civilian casualties and significant damage to civilian infrastructure. She noted a disturbing increase in attacks on vital civilian infrastructure, which millions rely on for electricity, safe movement, and imports of essential food and medical supplies.
According to Msuya, over two-thirds of Yemen's population depends on imported food, with nearly 90% of its medicines sourced externally. She emphasized the necessity for humanitarian workers to access seaports to deliver life-saving aid, food, and medicines.
Msuya warned that the humanitarian crisis is worsening, with at least 19.5 million people expected to need assistance in 2025, an increase of 1.3 million from 2024. More than 17 million people lack access to basic food needs, with nearly half of children under five suffering from stunting due to malnutrition.
Cholera has spread alarmingly, and approximately 4.8 million people have been displaced. Msuya assured continued support for those in need, noting modest but steady progress in overcoming bureaucratic hurdles for humanitarian operations.
UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, remarked that much of the past year was spent attempting to protect Yemen from regional escalations and emphasized the growing international dimension of the situation. He pointed out that Israel's recent airstrikes have damaged critical civilian infrastructure, impacting humanitarian aid.
Grundberg mentioned that ceasefire negotiations in Gaza could present opportunities to reduce tensions, yet the cycle of escalating attacks has hindered peace prospects and diverted critical attention and resources from Yemen. He stressed that resolving the crisis in Yemen is increasingly urgent for regional stability.
He reaffirmed the commitment to focus on peace in Yemen and called for support for UN efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the region. Grundberg expressed concerns that rising tensions and uncertainty within the international community could lead parties to reassess their options for peace, potentially resulting in miscalculations based on faulty assumptions. He emphasized the need for the Council to act cohesively and deliver a consistent message on the importance of a negotiated resolution in the coming months.