PRESS RELEASE : The Houthis must stop their attacks on ships in the Red Sea – UK statement at the UN Security Council [September 2024]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 12 September 2024.

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Yemen.

I’m grateful to the Special Envoy Grundberg and Acting USG Msuya for their briefings. And I also thank Ms Al Obahi for her vital insights that serve as a timely reminder of the importance of engagement with civil society and the Yemeni community, especially women, in order to achieve long-term stability and peace in Yemen.

I also welcome the participation of the permanent representative of Yemen in our meeting today.

Let me make three points.

First, I join the briefers in highlighting the plight of UN, NGO workers and staff and former staff of diplomatic missions who remain in Houthi captivity.

It is over three months since their detention; that’s three months of families being torn apart by the unprovoked and arbitrary act; and three months of reducing the humanitarian community’s capacity to be able to fully support Yemenis in need. There is no justification for this. We once again call on the Houthis to immediately and unconditionally release those detained.

Second, I join Ms Msuya in highlighting the severe constraints on humanitarian access in Yemen especially in Houthi-controlled areas. The reckless actions of the Houthis are further restricting an already complex and hostile operating environment, making it almost impossible to get aid to those who need it.

We must all be clear about the importance of safe and effective humanitarian access so that we can continue to deliver critical, lifesaving support to the Yemeni people.

Third, we once again reiterate this Council’s call for the Houthis to cease their dangerous and illegal attacks on maritime shipping.

The recent attack on the MV Sounion is a clear example of the Houthis’ disregard for the catastrophic environmental and economic consequences of their actions for both Yemen and the region.

We call for the immediate cessation of arms supplies to Houthis. The continued supply of advanced weapons which enables these attacks shows complete disregard for the UN Arms Embargo.

President, to conclude, the UK is grateful to Special Envoy Grundberg’s efforts to facilitate economic dialogue, de-escalate tensions and preserve space for a future peace process.

We are unwavering in our support to his efforts to secure an inclusive, sustainable peace in Yemen and we continue to call on all parties to de-escalate tensions and preserve space for negotiations under UN auspices.

Rather than pursuing reckless attacks and the detention of innocent civilians, we urge the Houthis to prioritise the needs of Yemenis by engaging with peace process negotiations.