Thank you, President, and let me start by thanking Special Envoy
Grundberg and Director Wosornu for your briefings. And I am also
grateful to Ms. Shaki for highlighting the connections between
climate, peace and security in Yemen as well as the stark
humanitarian situation. As you've said, and we've heard, Yemen
faces stark environmental challenges on top of the ongoing
conflict and addressing these issues now, and as part of any
discussions for peace, will be critical to Yemen's future
sustainability.
We also share Director Wosornu's, and Ms. Shaki's, concerns about
the humanitarian situation in Yemen, and in particular, the
access constraints preventing women aid workers from delivering
vital assistance. We reiterate our call for all parties to
facilitate unhindered access for humanitarian workers and welcome
OCHA's proposals for adapted measures, as Ms Wosornu has just
outlined.
The UK has provided over $1.2 billion since the crisis started.
We gave $110 million in humanitarian funding last year and we
expect to increase our contribution this year.
We also continue to support fully the ongoing efforts, of the
Special Envoy, to progress a roadmap towards UN-led Yemeni-Yemeni
dialogue. As we've said before, an inclusive political settlement
is the only way to bring sustainable peace and long-term
stability to Yemen and address the worsening humanitarian
crisis.
President, we unequivocally condemn the Iranian strikes against
Israel over the weekend, which have done nothing to advance
prospects for peace in Gaza. The UK has long been clear about
Iran's unacceptable role in destabilising the region, including
their role in supporting the Houthis in Yemen. We understand the
Houthis contributed to this latest attack. Their reckless actions
continue to risk seriously undermining efforts to bring peace to
the Yemeni people.
The Houthis continue to risk further escalation with their
ongoing attacks against shipping in the Red Sea. This Council has
been clear in its adoption of UNSCR 2722 on 10 January that we
condemn Houthi attacks. They threaten innocent lives, endanger
aid delivery to Yemen and the region.
We also reaffirm our condemnation of the attack on a home
in Rada last month by the Houthis. This attack led to a tragic
loss of life and injury and we express our deepest condolences to
the families of those killed and injured.
Furthermore, the decision to issue counterfeit currency in Yemen
threatens to destabilise the banking sector and deepen division
in the country's already fragile economy.
Finally, President, we call on the Houthis to prioritise the
interests of the Yemeni people, to engage with UN efforts to
resolve economic fragmentation and to cease provocations in order
to preserve space for an intra-Yemeni peace process. In short, we
call on the Houthis to stop attacks and return to the peace
talks.
Thank you, President.
