The UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg delivered his briefing today to the UN Security Council. ✍🏽 Key points included: ✅ The Special Envoy called shameful the continued arbitrary detention of over a year of dozens of personnel from UN, NGO, civil society, and diplomatic missions by Ansar Allah. He called again for their immediate and unconditional release and urged Security Council members to exert pressure for their freedom: “I will continue to demand their release at every opportunity I have. I made this commitment to the mother, the wife and the children of my own detained team member.” ✅ There have been multiple attacks launched by Ansar Allah attacks in Israel, including Ben Gurion airport and Israeli strikes in response on Hudaydah and Saleef ports and Sana’a airport: “I reiterate my call for all actors to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.” ✅ Following discussions over the last month with representatives of Egypt, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the Envoy noted a regional consensus that only a negotiated settlement can resolve the conflict in Yemen and provide guarantees that the region requires. ✅ He noted that multiple frontlines across Yemen remain fragile, especially in Marib with reports of troop movement and occasional flareups. He stressed shared responsibility for all actors to resume discussions on a ceasefire. ✅ Reopening of Al-Dhale’a Road is a sign of what’s possible. “I commend again the local facilitators... and encourage the parties to protect this achievement. I hope this will lead to many more openings. Yemen’s economy is in dire need of positive and trust-building steps such as these.” ✅ Briefing on the economic situation, the Envoy called for the parties to move away from a zero-sum mindset towards pragmatism and compromise. “More can and should be done to alleviate the humanitarian and economic hardships faced by the Yemeni people, including allowing the Government of Yemen to export oil and gas and facilitating the unobstructed flow of goods across the country. ✅ The Envoy called for the protection of civic space by all parties. Over the last month more protests led by women in Aden, Taiz, Lahj and Abyan were held demanding a more dignified life, including the payment of salaries and accountability. He noted with concern that Ansar Allah continues to suppress civil society voices and conducted a new wave of arrests in Hudaydah targeting journalists and public figures. ✅ This month marks a year since the Government of Yemen and Ansar Allah last met under UN auspices to discuss the release of thousands of conflict-related detainees. “I call on the parties to reprioritise this humanitarian file and move forward based on the agreed upon all-for-all principle.” ✅ He stressed the need to build on the cessation of hostilities in the Red Sea to provide durable guarantees to the region and the international community. This effort goes hand in hand with the work on the Roadmap to secure a comprehensive ceasefire, economic measures, and an inclusive political process. The cost of inaction is high — “Yemen cannot afford more years of division, economic collapse and human suffering.” https://osesgy.unmissions.org/briefing-un-special-envoy-yemen-hans-grundberg-security-council-25