US calls for more humanitarian aid to Yemen

The United States continues its diplomatic and political efforts to increase the humanitarian aid provided to Yemen and urge the conflicting parties to cease “hostile acts” and comprehensively participate in the UN-led political process for peace.

US Special Envoy to Yemen Tim Lenderking voiced the administration’s position during his visit to the Gulf region after the Security Council decided to renew for one year the arms embargo on the Houthis and classify the group as a terrorist militia, for the first time in the UN.

The Council “strongly condemned the cross-border attacks by the Houthi terrorist group, including attacks on Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that struck civilians and civilian infrastructure.”

The State Department said in a statement that Lenderking traveled to the Gulf to urge the parties to halt hostiles, participate fully in an inclusive UN-led peace process, and take swift action to mitigate the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.

The statement stressed that the US “remains committed to helping advance a durable resolution that ends the conflict, improves Yemeni lives, and creates the space for Yemenis to collectively determine their own future,” stressing that “justice and accountability” will be key to ensuring an enduring peace in Yemen.

In the latest US decisions last week, Washington sanctioned members of an international network funding the Houthis’ war against the Yemeni government and increasingly aggressive attacks threatening civilians and civilian infrastructure in neighboring states.

The sanctions on the network, which is run by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), included three individuals and eight entities and companies, including a sea freight carrier.