How the unreachable peace in Yemen is causing a humanitarian crisis without precedent

Eleonora Spina

Middle East and Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence 

The truce in Yemen, which began in April 2022, has come to an end. Even though there have not been any signs of intensification of clashes since its expiry on October 2nd, this could disrupt the peace reached during the truce thanks to which civilians’ deaths were reduced by 60 percent and fuel supplies were allowed to enter the country. [1] The news arrived from the UN envoy to Yemen, Hans Grundberg, when he declared on October 13 that attempts to extend the truce have failed. With this comes the fear that the humanitarian crisis which has been ongoing for the past eight years, is never going to end. [2]

The eight-year civil war caused by a legacy of colonialism and  religious and cultural differences generated the division between the Yemeni government, backed by a Saudi-led military coalition, and Iran-allied Houthi rebels. Since 2014 the Ansar Allah group has had a grip on the Yemeni Central and Northern governorates while the Internationally Recognized Government of Yemen (IRG) remains the one led by the Republic’s President Rashad al-Alimi and the Houthi authority (DFA) is not legitimated by the UN nor by the international community. [3] The systemic targeting by Ansar Allah of civilians, the deployment of landmines, the use of missiles and drones in population centers, [4] had already raised international concerns when the Trump administration attempted in 2021 to recognize the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. On the one hand, the sanctions planned could have discouraged the rebels and pressured them to engage in a UN-led peace, on the other hand the same sanctions, if not properly implemented, could have cut off aid to the Yemeni under the territorial control of the group. Due to fear of the impact on Yemen’s access to basic goods and services, Joe Biden revoked the designation. [5]

Addressing the United Nations Security Council on October 13th, UN Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Joyce Myusa, stated the urgency of the need to intensify humanitarian assistance. [6]

During a nine-day fact finding mission in Yemen, Msuya documented a severe shortage of food, stating “malnutrition rates among women and children are among the highest in the world…” [7] 70% of the Yemeni population now depend on humanitarian assistance. [8] Regardless of urgent needs, critical funding gaps and global inflation threaten the quality and continuity of humanitarian assistance. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has disclosed that the humanitarian response plan in Yemen, as of August, has only received 42% of required funding. Unmet requirements amount to $2.46 billion. Myusa highlighted the importance of reestablishing a truce and called on international financial institutions and donors to support the ongoing humanitarian response in Yemen. [9]

The attempt to reach a six-month renewal of the truce-with a view to finally reach a permanent agreement and find a solution to the conflict- collided with Al Houthi’s oppositions to the armistice [10]: while the Yemeni government and Presidential Command Council approved the extension of the truce proposed by the United Nations, resistance was found on the Houthi militia side. As he calls for an international response to the security threat that the Houthi militia represent, Yemen’s Foreign Minister Ahmen bin Mubarak claims that this proves the deliberate perpetuation of the humanitarian crisis by the Houthi militia. [11] 

Sources  & Further Reading:

[1]AlJazeera, “End of Yemen’s truce leaves civilians afraid dark days are back” (7 October 2022) <https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/7/end-yemen-truce-leaves-civilians-afraid-dark-days-back > accessed on 16 October 2022

[2] ‘Briefing to the United Nations Security Council by the Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg’ (reliefweb, 13 October 2022) <https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/briefing-

united-nations-security-council-special-envoy-yemen-hans-grundberg-13-october-2022-enar> accessed 17 October 2022.

[1]AlJazeera, “End of Yemen’s truce leaves civilians afraid dark days are back” (7 October 2022) <https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/10/7/end-yemen-truce-leaves-civilians-afraid-dark-days-back > accessed on 16 October 2022

[3]Council on Foreign Relations, “Yemen’s Tragedy, War, Stalemate, and Suffering” (21 October 2022) <https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/yemen-crisis> accessed 17 October 2022

[4]Embassy of the United Arab Emirates Washington, DC, “The case for designating the Houthis a Foreign Terrorist Organization” (22 March 2022) <https://www.uae-embassy.org/uae-us-cooperation/security/case-designating-houthis-foreign-terrorist-organization> accessed on 16 October 2022

[5] U.S. Department of State, “Revocation of the Terrorist Designations of Ansarallah” (12 Febrauary 2021) <https://www.state.gov/revocation-of-the-terrorist-designations-of-ansarallah/>

[6] Relief web OCHA services, “Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya - Briefing to the Security Council on the Humanitarian Situation in Yemen” (13 October 2022) <https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/assistant-secretary-general-humanitarian-affairs-and-deputy-emergency-relief-coordinator-joyce-msuya-briefing-security-council-humanitarian-situation-yemen-13-october-2022?_gl=1*1lchi3a*_ga*MzE3NTEyNzMzLjE2NjYwOTMyMTg.*_ga_E60ZNX2F68*MTY2NjA5MzIxOC4xLjEuMTY2NjA5NTAzMC42MC4wLjA> accessed on 16 October 2022

[7] ibid 

[8] ‘Needs Mount as Conflict in Yemen Rages On’ (UNHCR, 1 April 2022) <https://reporting.

unhcr.org/needs-mount-as-conflict-in-Yemen-rages-on> accessed 17 October 2022.

[9] Relief web OCHA services, “Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Joyce Msuya - Briefing to the Security Council on the Humanitarian Situation in Yemen” (13 October 2022) <https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/assistant-secretary-general-humanitarian-affairs-and-deputy-emergency-relief-coordinator-joyce-msuya-briefing-security-council-humanitarian-situation-yemen-13-october-2022?_gl=1*1lchi3a*_ga*MzE3NTEyNzMzLjE2NjYwOTMyMTg.*_ga_E60ZNX2F68*MTY2NjA5MzIxOC4xLjEuMTY2NjA5NTAzMC42MC4wLjA> accessed on 16 October 2022

[10]Security Council Report, “Yemen: Briefing and Consultations” (12 October 2022) <https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/whatsinblue/2022/10/yemen-briefing-and-consultations-28.php> aceessed on 16 October 2022

[11] ibid