Vietnam calls for efforts to prevent threats of a famine facing Yemeni people

A young girl and her brother in the Al Dhale'e camp for people displaced by the conflict in Yemen. YPN for UNOCHA

According to Quy, it has been three months since Special Envoy Martin Griffiths and Under-Secretary-General Mark Lowcock briefed the Council about the deteriorating situation in Yemen. Until now, we have not seen any significant improvements. Fighting has escalated across more than 40 frontlines, causing great casualties, including women and children.

He expressed his concern about the stagnation in the Middle East country in the past months while stressing that "the humanitarian situation is expected to become worse if the World Food Programmes and other United Nations agencies do not receive adequate fundings from pledged donors. In fact, the United Nations aid programmes in Yemen have been scaled back for the past several months."

"Moreover, the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is believed to add another layer of complexity to the conflict and dire humanitarian situation in Yemen. It would further deteriorate the living conditions of the Yemeni people and undermine the humanitarian efforts," said Quy.

He called on all relevant parties to realise the ceasefire call by the UN Secretary General and his Special Envoy, quickly ending hostilities and resuming negotiations on a joint statement on a nationwide ceasefire.

The representative from Vietnam urged all parties to uphold their obligations under international humanitarian law, with respect to the protection of civilians, especially women and children, and civilian objects. 

The concerned parties should uphold and fully implement the Stockholm Agreement and the Riyadh Agreement with the United Nations mediations. The meaningful participation of women in the political process should be also ensured and further promoted. Quy added.

At the session, participants called on the international community and sponsors to seek a solution to help locals in Yemen cope with hunger, especially the malnutrition among children. They also asked all relevant parties to work together to deal with the issues related to Safer oil storage ship offshore of Yemen.

Reports at the session highlighted the serious situation in Yemen where residents are facing high risk of starvation. The malnutrition rate among the people in the southern part of Yemen rose 10 percent in 2020, and it is 15 percent among the under-five children.

Besides, about 20 million Yemeni are facing a severe food security crisis. The economic situation has worsened as the prices of all necessities surge to a record height and the value of domestic currency falls 25 percent.

The second wave of COVID-19 pandemic may also cause severe impact to the situation in the country.