Yemen has emphasised the importance of relocating the headquarters of international organizations and humanitarian agencies to the temporary capital, Aden, to ensure the safety of employees and enhance the effectiveness of relief operations and the distribution of humanitarian aid across all governorates without discrimination.
This came during a meeting between Yemeni Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Waed Bathib and Director of Operations and Advocacy at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Edem Worsornu, in New York.
Bathib highlighted several key issues related to the humanitarian situation in Yemen, including the violations and continuous obstruction of humanitarian operations and activities by the Houthi group, particularly in areas under their control, as well as the issue of the detention and kidnapping of international and local organization employees by the group.
During his participation in the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development currently being held in New York, Bathib stressed the importance of the UN’s role in protecting its employees and pressuring the Houthis to release them and ensure their safety.
He pointed out the continuous damage and hindrance to humanitarian relief efforts and the direct threat to the lives and safety of employees and their families posed by such behavior.
The Yemeni Minister of Planning and International Cooperation also noted the Houthis’ detention of four Yemen Airways aircraft along with their technical and navigational crews, which has deprived Yemeni citizens of travel for medical treatment and healthcare, as well as prevented thousands of students from continuing their studies abroad, thereby exacerbating the overall humanitarian crisis.
Bathib called for concerted efforts to mobilize international support and bridge the gap in the Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan, emphasizing the need to transition from humanitarian interventions to developmental work to improve services, alleviate poverty, and achieve early recovery.
In a related context, Bathib praised the efforts of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) in providing technical and advisory support to Yemen in various fields, including the preparation of Yemen’s first voluntary report.
Following his meeting with ESCWA Executive Secretary Rola Dashti in Washington, Bathib emphasized the importance of ESCWA’s support for Yemen in areas such as promoting renewable energy, addressing climate change, enhancing the productivity of the agricultural sector, and other fields.
He also highlighted the capacity-building efforts for thousands of Yemeni employees in relevant public sector areas.
For her part, ESCWA Executive Secretary Rola Dashti indicated the organization’s continued support for Yemen during this critical phase, particularly in capacity building and resilience enhancement in several key sectors, notably agriculture and fisheries, among other vital sectors.
