Published on: 2026-10-13
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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October 9, 2026 Peace and Security
Over the past several weeks, Yemen has “once again descended into full-scale war,” said the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg, speaking on Friday at a meeting of the UN Security Council.
According to the Special Envoy, after the advance of the Ansar Allah (Houthis) group toward Mocha and along the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait coast, fierce fighting continued in the mountainous areas west and south of the city of Taiz, and also spread to the Lahij province.
Earlier this week, Yemeni government forces launched a large-scale counteroffensive and shortly thereafter reported regaining control over areas near the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. Ansar Allah, in turn, struck civilian and energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.
“I join the Secretary-General in condemning these actions and once again call on ‘Ansar Allah’ to cease the attacks,” Grundberg said.
According to the Special Envoy, civilians, especially women and children, suffer the most from the escalation of violence. He specifically noted that all this is happening at a time when the International Monetary Fund has recognized Yemen as the poorest country in the world.
“The ongoing instability in the Middle East continues to affect the situation in Yemen, while events in the country itself, in turn, impact the entire region,” Grundberg continued.
According to him, Ansar Allah’s threats against commercial vessels associated with Saudi Arabia and passing through the Red Sea undermine freedom of navigation for all states.
Grundberg welcomed the release of the “Ansar Allah” United Nations staff member, while reminding that 72 UN workers still remain in custody, and significant progress in their release has yet to be achieved.
Humanitarian situation
“I must warn the Council that the humanitarian crisis in Yemen has sharply worsened,” said Mohamed Yahya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator of the United Nations, speaking at the meeting.
Describing the suffering of Yemen’s civilian population amid the escalation of hostilities, he reported that since the beginning of August, more than 200,000 people across the country have been forced to leave their homes – the highest displacement figure since the ceasefire was agreed in 2022.
Referring to confirmed data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Yahya reported that at least 46 civilians have died and more than 130 have been injured since August.
“More than half of the fatalities and nearly a third of the wounded are children,” he noted.
Yahya expressed concern that amid these tragic events, the humanitarian aid plan for Yemen is funded only at 22 percent. He also emphasized the need for a political settlement of the conflict and ensuring humanitarian access.
“Open the roads!” urged the Assistant Secretary-General. “Give humanitarian workers the opportunity to do their work. Allow people to receive the help they so desperately need.”
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