The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, expresses his concern about recent developments involving Yemen.

The Special Envoy reiterates the Secretary-General’s call for all involved to avoid actions that would worsen the situation in Yemen, escalate the threat to maritime trade routes, or further fuel regional tensions at this critical time.

He stresses the need to protect Yemeni civilians, and to safeguard the progress of peace efforts since the truce of April 2022. This includes the recent commitments by the parties in December 2023 and the ongoing discussions around a UN Roadmap that would operationalize a nationwide ceasefire, resume an inclusive political process under UN auspices, and address key priorities for the benefit of the Yemeni people.

He notes with serious concern the increasingly precarious regional context, and its adverse impact on peace efforts in Yemen and stability and security in the region. The Special Envoy urges all involved to exercise maximum restraint and to prioritize diplomatic channels over military options and calls for de-escalation.