Construction of Gaza aid pier initiated by US

In a recent interview with Arab News, Tim Lenderking, the US special envoy for Yemen, emphasized the importance of not allowing Houthi attacks on international shipping to derail the peace process in Yemen. The attacks, which have escalated in response to Israel’s military offensive against Hamas in Gaza, have caused significant disruption to global trade in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Lenderking placed the responsibility for de-escalating the situation in Yemen on the Houthi militia, stating that the US will halt retaliatory strikes when the attacks on shipping cease. He called on Iran to stop fueling the conflict in Yemen by smuggling weapons and lethal material in violation of UN Security Council resolutions.

The US envoy highlighted the urgent need to help Yemen regain its ability to chart its own future and called for a return to the promising peace process that existed before the recent regional turmoil. He stressed the suffering of the Yemeni people after eight years of war and expressed the desire to see foreign fighters, including Iranians, removed from Yemen.

Despite the challenges posed by competing crises in the region, Lenderking emphasized the importance of maintaining international focus on Yemen’s peace process and humanitarian situation. He acknowledged the impact of the conflict in Gaza on efforts to resolve the war in Yemen but called for a refocusing of priorities by the Houthis on peace efforts within Yemen itself.

The UN envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, also highlighted the ongoing threat of Houthi attacks on shipping and the need for a ceasefire in Gaza to facilitate progress in Yemen. He lamented the lack of progress in resolving the conflict and the worsening humanitarian situation, including rising food insecurity and the spread of cholera.

Edem Wosornu, director of operations and advocacy at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, raised concerns about the funding shortages for humanitarian efforts in Yemen and the urgent need to address the growing levels of malnutrition and cholera in the country.

Lenderking called on the international community to take urgent action to fill the funding gaps and support the peace process in Yemen. He expressed optimism that donors would respond once there is a genuine possibility of progress in the peace process and called on the Houthi militia to cease their attacks and allow for a return to negotiations.

As Yemen continues to face immense challenges, including conflict, food insecurity, and a deteriorating humanitarian situation, the call to support the country in regaining its ability to determine its own future remains crucial. The international community must come together to ensure that Yemen’s chance for peace does not become “collateral damage” in the midst of regional turmoil.