Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Yemen Martin Griffiths strongly denounced the military escalation between the warring parties in Yemen.
He expressed concern particularly over the recent increasing hostilities in the governorates of Marib and Jawf.
Griffiths said that the escalation goes against the spirit of the ongoing UN-facilitated negotiations which are aimed at reaching agreement between the Parties on: a nation-wide Ceasefire; humanitarian and economic measures to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people; and a commitment to resume the political process aimed at comprehensively ending the conflict.
“I once again urge the Parties to take serious measures to de-escalate, give peace a chance, and continue to engage constructively with the UN efforts to reach an agreement. I hope they will refrain from the misguided quest for territorial gain by force, which can only bring more violence and suffering to Yemen," he stressed.
He noted that Marib is a haven for hundreds of thousands of displaced Yemenis, noting that "it has been an island of relative stability and calm during over five years of conflict. It is rich in resources that are vital for the survival and wellbeing of Yemenis in many other governorates."
“This military escalation is unjustified and runs counter to the hopes of Yemeni men and women for peace. It makes the daily struggle for survival in Yemen even harder, and impedes efforts to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak devastating the country,” Griffiths added.
In regard to recent tensions in Socotra, he expressed deep concern in an official statement on twitter warning from taking over of state institutions by force.
"I call on the Government of Yemen and the Southern Transitional Council to swiftly implement the Riyadh Agreement under KSA auspices," stressed Griffiths in his statement.
