Delivering his final briefing for the year, Hans Grundberg noted that 2024 was marked by immense turmoil and tragedy across the Middle East region, where far too many people – including in Yemen – have endured profound loss due to violent conflicts.
At IOM’s Migrant Response Point in Aden, migrants receive the cholera vaccine as part of a nationwide effort to tackle the outbreak.
Struggling to survive
He noted that in Government-controlled areas, the Yemeni currency has hit successive record lows as oil and gas exports remain obstructed. In some locations, food costs have risen by nearly 30 per cent compared to last year.
Furthermore, basic services have faltered, and families are increasingly turning to alternative ways to survive, including child marriage.
He highlighted other challenges, including a cholera outbreak that has affected more than 200,000 people, and flooding that displaced more than half a million.
Meanwhile, humanitarians have faced funding cuts which have forced vital programmes to close. Still, they have supported an estimated 7.8 million people this year despite the obstacles.
“Above all, we will stay and deliver support to address human suffering whenever and wherever it is found, based on need alone,” he said.
Keep lifelines open
Mr. Fletcher appealed for the Council to ensure humanitarian lifelines in Yemen are protected in conflict.
He urged ambassadors to use their influence to secure full respect for international law, which includes ensuring critical infrastructure is spared.
“It is particularly critical that Yemen’s Red Sea ports remain operational and available for imports – they are lifelines for millions of people,” he said.
He called for the full support for humanitarian funding, as $2.5 billion is required to reach more than 10 million people across Yemen.
“Finally, Special Envoy Grundberg must be backed to secure a lasting resolution to the conflict in Yemen. This is essential to ending the decade-long cycle of humanitarian suffering,” he concluded.