Red Sea Shipping Disruptions to Exacerbate the Dire Humanitarian Situation in Yemen
The escalation of the Red Sea crisis is poised to accelerate the increase in shipping costs, delay the delivery of essential food or lead to a complete suspension of trade routes and closure of Yemeni ports, a new report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) finds. This will drive a further rise in food insecurity in Yemen, largely affecting the most vulnerable populations, including the poor and internally displaced, who will struggle to afford essential food items. According to the Potential Impacts of Red Sea Crisis Escalation on Food Insecurity in Yemen report, the food security situation in Yemen is already fragile and further shocks emanating from the Red Sea crisis will cause additional harm to an already dire situation that can be described as one of the worst humanitarian emergencies in the world. The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis reveals that almost 5 million people or 45 percent of the population analyzed in the Government of Yemen’s controlled areas is estimated to be in Crisis or worse.
Badr Hamad Al Busaidi, Foreign Minister on Monday received in Muscat, Hans Grundberg, UN Special Envoy for Yemen. During the meeting, the two sides discussed developments regarding international efforts exerted to bring about a comprehensive reconciliation and peace in Yemen. The Foreign Minister stressed the keenness attached by the Sultanate of Oman to Yemen’s stability, security, unity and its sovereignty. He also underscored Oman’s support for all efforts that serve the interests and aspirations of the Yemeni people and contribute to strengthening pillars of security and peace in the region.
The Yemen-based Houthis renewed their threats against Saudi Arabia, warning it not to support US strikes against the group. “We have sent a message to Saudi Arabia that it will be a target if it allows American fighter jets to use its territory or airspace in their aggression on Yemen,” Mohammed Ali Al-Houthi, a member of the Houthis’ Supreme Political Council, said in an interview with Al-Masirah TV. Al-Houthi signaled more tense relations between the Houthis and Saudis by saying the kingdom needed to take more serious steps toward a peace plan. He stressed negotiations can’t progress until the kingdom agrees to resume the payment of some salaries, electricity and other services in Yemen.
The United Kingdom has warned of the risk of a major oil spill in the Red Sea following an attack by the Houthis on a Chinese ship off the Yemeni coast on Saturday. In a statement on (X), the British Embassy in Yemen said, "the targeting of the Chinese-owned ship carrying Russian oil came despite an agreement between the Houthis, Russia, and China not to attack their ships."The embassy stressed that the only way to ensure safe passage in the Red Sea is for the Houthis to stop the reckless attacks.
