UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg has presented his first vision for launching a political process in Yemen that enjoys international support and allows for “gradual progress” towards ending the war in the country by establishing “comprehensive governance arrangements.”
Grundberg warned that the military campaign in the governorate of Marib might lead to urban warfare with grave consequences on civilians.
Yemen is teetering on a new “fragmented and bloody” chapter of war as military escalation and conflict escalates, Grundberg told the Security Council on Tuesday, calling for “restraint, de-escalation, and dialogue.”
“Even as the conflict parties all profess to me their desire for peace, their focus remains on military options…[which] will not result in sustainable solutions”, he said.
“In Hodeidah, on the 12th of November, the Joint Forces affiliated with the Government of Yemen evacuated their positions from large parts of the Governorate,” noted Grundberg, adding that Houthis “immediately took control of most of the vacated areas.”
“This has led to a major shift of the frontline in the Governorate,” he explained.
“As confrontations on the West Coast temporarily took center stage, the pivotal battle for Marib continued.”
Fighting has intensified, with Houthis renewing their push for the “city and oil fields in the Governorate.”
“I remain concerned about the possibility of urban warfare in the city, which would have terrible consequences for the civilians.”
“In my meetings with the parties, I have stressed the urgent need for de-escalation and immediate measures to protect civilians,” affirmed the UN envoy, warning that the increased use of artillery, missiles, and airstrikes endanger civilian lives, infrastructure, and services.
“I am also concerned about attacks against Saudi Arabia targeting civilian and commercial infrastructure,” he said.
Also, Grundberg denounced the summary execution on the West Coast of ten individuals belonging to local security forces staged by Houthis on the 13th of November. He said that the incident is yet another example of the worrying disregard of international law in this conflict.
