Thank you, Madam President.
I would also like to begin by thanking the Special Envoy Hans Grundberg for his briefings, but also him and his team for all the valuable work done and the excellent cooperation over the past two years. I would also like to extend a warm welcome to Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, and assure him of Switzerland's cooperation. We will certainly continue to support international humanitarian law, even when we are no longer on the Council. We will remain a major donor to OCHA, and we also have International Geneva at your disposal as a humanitarian operations center. And of course, I would also like to thank Mr. Al-Omeisy for having the courage to share his suffering and fate with us here at the Council today. Thank you very much.
When Switzerland first addressed the Council on the situation in Yemen, we welcomed the truce then prevailing between the parties. The roadmap presented by Special Envoy Hans Grundberg in December 2023 filled us with hope. We welcomed the parties' commitment to a roadmap aimed at implementing a ceasefire, improving living conditions in Yemen and preparing for the resumption of an inclusive political process under the auspices of the UN. Switzerland has supported this positive dynamic at every stage.
These positive developments now seem a long way off, as we have just heard. For more than a year, we have witnessed a worrying resurgence of attacks within and from Yemen, as well as in the Red Sea. The attacks of the last few days, including a drone strike in Taiz that killed six civilians and wounded eight others, underline the urgent need for action. These events remind us of our fundamental objective: an inclusive political solution, negotiated under the aegis of the United Nations. Escalation, like the status quo, offers no viable prospect. We therefore reiterate our full support for Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and his roadmap, which provides a solid basis for progress towards a lasting peace. As in the past, we stand ready to host talks under the aegis of the UN.
Only a political solution will guarantee a peaceful future for the people of Yemen. We owe this in particular to the children of Yemen, who continue to suffer the devastating consequences of this conflict. The serious violations documented against them - murders and attacks on physical integrity, recruitment, attacks on schools and hospitals, or obstacles to humanitarian aid - demand decisive action. These violations must stop. Switzerland is committed to this through the Group of Friends on Children and Armed Conflict in Yemen, which we co-chair with Norway. We are also contributing to the monitoring and reporting mechanism on grave violations. We are also calling for the resumption of discussions on the exchange of prisoners, some of whom are minors. They must be given special attention. Their release is an absolute priority.
The effects of climate change, such as floods and droughts, are also threatening the future of millions of Yemenis. Since 2015, extreme events linked to climate change have exacerbated the humanitarian crisis and displaced 4.5 million people. Climate change acts as a risk multiplier, increasing people's vulnerability, leading to competition for resources and fuelling conflict. Sustainable peace also depends on strengthening the resilience of communities and finding solutions to the combined impacts of conflict and climate change.
Mainly due to the armed conflict that has ravaged the country for more than a decade, and exacerbated by climate change, the disastrous humanitarian situation is creating a breeding ground for violence. Against this backdrop, the role of humanitarian actors in Yemen is crucial. However, their work is seriously hampered and their security remains precarious, as demonstrated by the prolonged and arbitrary detention of humanitarian and UN staff by the
Houthis over the past 6 months. Switzerland strongly condemns these detentions and calls for their immediate and unconditional release. As stated in Resolution 2730, these personnel are protected by international humanitarian law.
Madam President,
I would like to conclude with these words,
I will end with these words: There is no such thing as fate. Where there is political will, there is hope for change. This Council must keep Yemen - and above all the civilian population of Yemen - at the centre of its attention despite the regional turbulence. It must continue to work for peace, to make it a tangible reality for future generations. And to do so, it must remain united!
Thank you.