UN Envoy Warns of Impending Full-Scale War in Yemen Amid Heightened Regional Tensions

The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, has sounded the alarm over the risk of a return to full-scale conflict in Yemen, emphasizing the urgent need for international intervention as regional tensions escalate.

In a briefing to the Security Council on July 23, 2024, Grundberg highlighted a troubling shift in the trajectory of the Yemeni conflict, which has persisted since 2014 between the Yemeni government forces and Houthi rebels, also known as Ansar Allah. He warned that without immediate action, the situation could reach a tipping point. The envoy pointed to a recent Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv, followed by retaliatory Israeli airstrikes on Hudaydah, as key events that have intensified the conflict’s regional dimensions.

“The escalation reached a new and dangerous level last week,” Grundberg stated, expressing deep concern over the continued targeting of international shipping in the Red Sea, a vital route for global trade. He noted that commercial vessels have been sunk, civilians killed, and the crew of the hijacked cargo ship Galaxy Leader remains detained, disrupting international trade.

With military preparations increasing along frontlines, Grundberg reported that while violence levels had been relatively contained compared to the pre-2022 truce period, the recent trend of escalation poses a significant threat. He called for immediate measures to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis, which has seen food insecurity and malnutrition rates surge. Currently, nearly 58% of the population faces food deprivation, with one in two children under five experiencing chronic malnutrition.

Joyce Msuya, UN Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, echoed these concerns, describing Hudaydah Port as a “lifeline” for millions, as 85% of food supplies enter through it. She highlighted the urgent need for funding, as low levels have severely hampered humanitarian efforts, allowing aid to reach only 315,000 of the two million people targeted this year.

Both officials stressed the necessity for the international community to unite in de-escalating tensions and supporting humanitarian efforts to avert a catastrophic return to war in Yemen.