Yemen.. UN-Russian talks on the situation in Hodeidah and navigation security in the Red Sea

UN and Russian officials discussed the situation in Al Hudaydah Governorate and the security of international navigation in the Red Sea (western Yemen), in light of the Houthi militia's escalation of its violations against civilians and the continuation of its naval attacks threatening international shipping.

The Russian Embassy in our country said that the Chargé d'Affaires of the Russian Embassy in Yemen, Dr. Yevgeny Kudrov, met on Tuesday with the Head of the United Nations Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement ( UNMHA ) and the Chairman of the Redistribution Coordination Committee ( RCC ), Major General Michael Perry.

During the meeting, the UNMHA President presented his assessment of the situation in Hodeidah and the surrounding areas, spoke about the state of the port infrastructure, and expressed his concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Yemen.

For his part, Dr. Yevgeny Kudrov stressed the importance of maintaining peace and stability on the Yemeni Red Sea coast and in the region as a whole, and spoke in detail about Russia's efforts to strengthen the Yemeni political process and rebuild the country.

Kudrov stressed the importance of resolving the conflict in Yemen through diplomatic means, according to the statement.

Временный Поверенный в делах России в Йемене Е.А.Кудров встретился с главой Миссии ООН по поддержке осуществления Соглашения по Ходейде (МООНСХ), руководителем Координационного комитета ООН по передислокации генералом М.Бэри. pic.twitter.com/o0LKDDThhB

— Russian Embassy in Yemen (@RussianEmbYemen) November 19, 2024

Over the past few days, the Houthi militia has intensified its violations against civilians in Al Hudaydah Governorate, carrying out extensive displacement operations that affected about 6,600 citizens, and has expanded the planting of mines and tunnels, in conjunction with the deployment of large military forces to the coastal governorate and the establishment of military developments, while continuing its naval attacks targeting international traffic.

The local authority in Al Hudaydah Governorate and the Yemeni government accuse the UN mission of colluding with the Houthi militia and not doing its duty in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions.

Last Sunday, Foreign Minister Shaye Al-Zindani called on the United Nations Mission to support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA), during his meeting with the head of the mission in Riyadh, to take firm measures against the smuggling of weapons to the Houthi militia, in a meeting that addressed the Houthi threats to international navigation.

The Minister stressed the importance of the mission's work to support the government's efforts to remove the mines that the militias planted densely and randomly in Hodeidah.