Mr. President,
I would like to thank Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and Ms Lisa Doughten of OCHA for their contributions.
“War is ugly” is how 40-year-old Sana'a resident Elham Hassan begins her September 2023 “letter to future generations”, a compelling plea for peace. She adds: “Even when the fighting ends, things don't go back to the way they were. You may still be alive and breathing, but you're not really living anymore.” These words remind us of our duty: to avoid conflict and its far-reaching consequences.
In this respect, three points need to be made.
Firstly, there is an urgent need to put an end to the spiral of violence. Switzerland remains deeply concerned about the situation in the region, including Yemen. An even more serious regional escalation must be avoided. This would also worsen the situation in Yemen, with disastrous humanitarian consequences. We call on all parties to strictly respect international law, including the rights and freedoms of navigation in the Red Sea. We reiterate our call for maximum restraint and a diplomatic solution. Switzerland supports all diplomatic efforts currently underway in this regard.
Secondly, the resolution of the political conflict in Yemen must remain at the center of our attention. We call on all parties to do their utmost to avoid a return to large-scale conflict. Confidence-building measures are essential. Last month, we welcomed the agreement on the cessation of retaliatory measures in the banking sector and the resumption of certain commercial flights. Its partial implementation is a step in the right direction. All economic retaliation must cease. Switzerland calls on the parties to the conflict to respect the provisions of the economic de-escalation agreement and to meet under the aegis of the Office of the Special Envoy. The resumption of discussions on a prisoner exchange last June is a positive signal, which we welcome. These discussions represent an opportunity to create a climate of confidence and give fresh impetus to the talks initiated by the Special Envoy. In this context, Switzerland reiterates its full support for the Special Envoy's mediation role.
Thirdly, only support for humanitarian work and a diplomatic resolution of the conflict will bring about a lasting improvement in the alarming humanitarian situation. We are concerned about the flash floods. A study carried out by a Yemeni NGO at Switzerland's request on the impact of climate change on displaced people in Yemen showed that almost 600,000 people have been displaced over the past 15 years by torrents and flash floods. These floods further amplify the risk of diseases such as cholera. In addition, the destruction of civilian infrastructure and the dispersal of populations due to the ongoing armed conflict have further increased vulnerability to these climatic events.
The work of humanitarian personnel is crucial in this context. Their safety and access to the civilian population must be guaranteed, in accordance with international humanitarian law, as stated in Resolution 2730. Switzerland is very concerned by the Houthis' restrictions on civilian and humanitarian space, which are creating a climate of fear. The arbitrary detention of Yemeni civilians, including humanitarian and UN personnel, is unacceptable. Switzerland condemns the storming of the OHCHR office in Sana'a. We call for the immediate release of all those arbitrarily detained. Unauthorized entry into a UN office and forcible seizure of documents and goods constitutes a serious violation of the privileges and immunities of the United Nations.
Mr. President,
Elham Hassan ends her letter with an urgent call for “a lasting peace that will preserve freedom, dignity, rights and equality for all”. We can only reiterate this appeal, for Yemen and for the region as a whole. This Council's support for the UN's political and humanitarian efforts remains fundamental. Switzerland will continue to work to this end.
Thank you.