United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday urged all sides in Yemen to exercise maximum restraint following a southern separatist advance that risks reigniting a decade-long civil war after a long lull.
He also said the operating environment has become unsustainable in areas held by the Iran-aligned Houthi movement – Yemen’s capital Sana’a and the densely populated northwest.
The separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC), which has been supported in the past by the United Arab Emirates, claims to have taken over the eastern provinces of Hadhramaut and Mahra and is now firmly established in all provinces of the former state of South Yemen.
STC is an important part of the coalition fighting alongside the internationally recognized government against the Houthi movement.
– I call on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, de-escalate tensions and resolve differences through dialogue. This includes regional stakeholders, whose constructive engagement and coordination in support of UN mediation efforts is key to ensuring collective security interests – stated Guterres.
Guterres, who just returned from a visit to Saudi Arabia and Oman, also condemned the continued arbitrary detention of 59 UN staff by the Houthis, calling for their immediate and unconditional release.
– In recent days, the Huttese de facto authorities sent three of our colleagues to a special criminal court. That referral must be revoked. They are accused in connection with the performance of official duties of the United Nations. Those accusations must be dismissed – he said.
The United Nations has repeatedly rejected Houthi accusations that UN personnel or UN operations in Yemen were involved in espionage.
– We must be able to do our work without interference. Despite these challenges, we remain committed to providing life-saving support to millions of people across Yemen – said Guterres.
He said 19.5 million people in Yemen – nearly two-thirds of the population – need humanitarian aid, Reuters reports.
(Vijesti.ba / FENA)
