UN envoy to Yemen warns of a ‘devastating’ regional escalation, but points to glimmer of hope

UNITED NATIONS — The U.N. envoy for Yemen warned Tuesday that recent developments in the Red Sea, Israel and inside the country “show the real danger of a devastating region-wide escalation” — but he also pointed to a glimmer of hope. Hans Grundberg said Yemen’s warring parties — the internationally recognized government and Houthi rebels – informed him Monday night “that they have agreed on a path to de-escalate a cycle of measures and countermeasures which had sought to tighten their grip on the banking and transport sectors.” But he warned the U.N. Security Council that seven months of escalating actions reached “a new and dangerous level last week” which saw a Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv and Israeli retaliatory attacks on Yemen’s key port of Hodeida and its oil and power facilities. While fighting has decreased considerably since a six-month truce in 2022, Grundberg told the council that clashes have been reported along numerous frontlines this month “and we have witnessed an increase in military preparations and reinforcements.” Rivalry between the Houthis and the southern government have fueled an economic divide, with the rivals establishing separate and independent central banks and different versions of the country’s currency, the riyal. “The aim remains a unified currency, a unified and independent central bank, and a banking sector free of political interference.” Nonetheless, while Grundberg welcomed the willingness of both sides to engage on economic issues, he said, “I reiterate my warning to the council that we risk a return to full-scale war and all the predictable human suffering and regional implications that entails.” Grundberg told reporters the four points are similar to commitments the two sides made in September to engage in dialogue. Msuya said the detentions “have caused widespread fear and anxiety among humanitarian workers” and without guarantees for their safety and security, “we cannot operate at the scale required.” She also appealed to donors, saying low funding has meant that an average of just 2.9 million people received food assistance every month of the 12.9 million targeted – and many of those getting aid “are having to make do with reduced rations, around 40% of what they need.” —- Jade Lozada contributed to this report from the United Nations