UN envoy warns Houthi Red Sea attacks could worsen Yemen crisis

U.N. Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg cautioned on Monday that any escalation in the ongoing hostilities between the Saudi‑led coalition and the Houthi movement would “deepen the suffering of the Yemeni people.” Speaking at a briefing in Geneva, Grundberg referenced recent missile strikes on port facilities in Hodeidah and renewed air raids in the north, which have disrupted the flow of food, fuel and medical supplies to an already fragile population of more than 30 million. He reiterated the United Nations’ call for an immediate ceasefire and urged both parties to return to the Riyadh‑mediated peace talks that have stalled since the last round of negotiations in early 2024.

The envoy’s warning comes amid a sharp increase in civilian casualties reported by the World Health Organization, which recorded over 2,000 deaths in the past month alone. Humanitarian agencies have warned that the destruction of key infrastructure could push the country’s food insecurity rating from “crisis” to “catastrophe.” Grundberg urged the international community to maintain pressure on the warring sides and to accelerate the delivery of aid through established corridors, emphasizing that further confrontation would only exacerbate the humanitarian disaster and undermine prospects for a political settlement.