Sana'a - Saba:
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Jamal Amer has strongly condemned the United Nations' continued disregard for the repeated messages sent by the Yemeni government concerning newly imposed, punitive procedures enacted by the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism (UNVIM) in Djibouti, which came into effect on July 4, 2025.
In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Minister Amer called for the complete termination of the UNVIM mechanism, asserting that it no longer serves the purpose for which it was originally established.
He emphasized that the lack of response from the UN Secretary-General’s office to any of Sana’a’s communications starkly contradicts the high moral standing and humanitarian credibility the Secretary-General holds in the eyes of the Yemeni government and people, who have long regarded him as "a voice for justice and humanity."
"How can the UN Secretary-General ignore the cries of the Yemeni people who have endured a brutal siege for over a decade?" the Foreign Minister questioned.
Minister Amer described the new UNVIM procedures — including full physical inspections, the opening of each container individually, and the prohibition of any container movement without complete documentation — as more than mere updates, labeling them a serious escalation of the suffocating blockade on Yemen.
He denounced these measures as collective punishment that exacerbates the suffering of the Yemeni people and severely disrupts the flow of essential goods and humanitarian aid, the only lifeline for millions. He warned that turning UNVIM into a tool of obstruction fundamentally distorts the UN's humanitarian role and erodes trust in its neutrality and effectiveness.
The Minister cautioned that enforcing such harsh measures under current conditions would not only worsen Yemen's humanitarian crisis but also risk triggering a dangerous escalation threatening the stability of the entire Red Sea region.
He noted that obstructing the flow of vital supplies and increasing human suffering creates a highly volatile environment that could undermine all efforts toward achieving lasting peace.
Amer urged the UN Secretary-General to dismantle the UNVIM mechanism entirely due to its redundancy and failure to fulfill its intended mission. Until then, he called for the immediate cancellation of the newly imposed stringent measures and a return to the original facilitative procedures that prioritized humanitarian needs, including the expeditious processing of non-prohibited and reliably sourced goods without full container inspections.
He reiterated that the continued flow of goods is not merely an economic demand but a critical humanitarian necessity to ensure Yemen's food and medical security. He expressed hope that the Secretary-General would recognize the gravity of the situation and take swift action to restore UNVIM to its intended humanitarian role.
Finally, Minister Amer warned that the continued silence and disregard of Sana’a's appeals will not be tolerated by the Yemeni people and will only undermine the UN's mission and credibility in Yemen and the broader region.
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