On Tuesday, August 6, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs urged the UN Security Council to "double" its efforts to establish a ceasefire in Yemen. According to AFP, "Stephen O'Brien" announced this request and also reported that he would travel to Yemen in the coming weeks "to see for himself the needs of the people of Yemen and the challenges they are facing." Mr. O'Brien noted that the latest ceasefire in Yemen lasted only a few hours, stating, "This conflict has inflicted heartbreaking damage on the people of Yemen, who were already suffering." The UN Under-Secretary-General added, "We must double our efforts to establish a ceasefire respected by all parties involved, so that we can deliver essential aid to those in need and create time and space for a longer ceasefire or a political solution to this conflict." The United Nations has requested $1.6 billion for humanitarian aid to Yemen, but has so far received only 15 percent of that amount, which is $241 million. Stephen O'Brien, addressing the Security Council, stated that the funds collected for Yemen are "sadly insufficient." According to UN reports, eighty percent of the people of Yemen, approximately 21 million, are in need of assistance and protection, with more than 10 million of them facing difficulties in obtaining water and food. On Tuesday, Stephen O'Brien said that a plan to assist three million of these needy individuals is "ready and prepared" and will be implemented as soon as a ceasefire is established. The last ceasefire in Yemen, which was the third ceasefire since the onset of the conflict in the country, was nullified on Tuesday with the resumption of airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition and clashes in southern Yemen. The coalition forces led by Saudi Arabia had announced a unilateral ceasefire on Monday morning to allow humanitarian aid to reach those in need in Yemen. Four months have passed since the fighting in Yemen began, during which the Iranian-backed Houthi Shiites succeeded in ousting the Saudi-backed president in the country.
UN Calls for Increased Efforts to Establish Ceasefire in Yemen
The UN is urging the Security Council to intensify efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Yemen, as ongoing conflicts continue to devastate the population. Stephen O'Brien, the UN Under-Secretary-General, plans to visit Yemen to assess the humanitarian crisis firsthand. This situation is critical as 80% of Yemen's population requires urgent assistance.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The UN has called for increased efforts to establish a ceasefire in Yemen as the humanitarian crisis worsens. Stephen O'Brien highlighted the urgent need for aid and announced plans to visit Yemen to assess the situation firsthand.
- 80% of Yemen's population, approximately 21 million people, are in need of assistance.
- The latest ceasefire was short-lived, lasting only a few hours before renewed airstrikes and clashes resumed.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Yemen has been embroiled in a civil war since 2014, leading to one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with millions in need of assistance due to conflict and blockade.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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