Yemen Monitor/Newsroom
UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, on Thursday accused the Houthi armed group of repressing UN and international organization staff, calling on the armed group to immediately release the detained UN and international staff.
In a new briefing to the Security Council on Wednesday evening, Grundberg said, “In four days, on August 19, we will celebrate World Humanitarian Day. However, in Yemen, we are facing a campaign of repression against the humanitarian and civil space by the Houthis.”
The UN envoy called on the Houthi group to “act responsibly and compassionately towards the citizens of their country and to immediately and unconditionally release all UN staff, NGO workers, civil society, diplomatic missions, private sector, and members of religious minorities.”
Regarding the economic situation, the UN envoy stressed the need to work towards unifying the currency, establishing a unified central bank, and ensuring the separation of the banking sector from political interference.
Grundberg said, “I reiterate the importance of working towards unifying the currency and towards a unified central bank, and ensuring the separation of the banking sector from political interference. My office has prepared options and presented a clear proposal and path to achieve these goals.”
He added that the two parties were able, last month, with “the support of Saudi Arabia, to stop a dangerous cycle of escalation that was negatively affecting the banking and transportation sectors in Yemen and threatening to ignite a new military conflict.”
He explained that “regional escalation is occurring in parallel with the real and pressing challenges within Yemen that need to be addressed, stressing that “addressing the decade-long conflict in Yemen remains the focus of my efforts.”
