Concern about the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen

Concern about the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen

Press Statement

John Kirby
Department Spokesperson

Washington, DC

July 2, 2015

The United States is deeply concerned about the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen, which the United Nations yesterday designated as a Level 3 crisis, its most severe category.

In light of the critical humanitarian situation facing the Yemeni people, we again join the United Nations and the international community in calling for an immediate humanitarian pause, to be enacted as UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon suggested in his July 1 statement until the end of the holy month of Ramadan and the Eid al-Fitr celebration. A pause, along with commensurate disengagement of armed forces in all areas including Aden, Taiz, and Marib, would allow international aid organizations to deliver urgently needed food, medicine, and fuel to citizens throughout Yemen. It would also allow for the delivery of vital commercial goods on which Yemen depends.

The United States will continue to work actively with humanitarian organizations to help facilitate the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid. A humanitarian pause now could also further efforts to create space for productive political dialogue as part of the UN-facilitated political transition process in which all of Yemen’s communities have important roles to play.

ENDS

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