UN suspends inspection of ships bound for Hodeidah

English - Saturday 02 July 2022 الساعة 07:01 pm
Aden, NewsYemen:

The United Nations said, on Friday, that it will suspend its verification and inspection mechanism in Yemen, which is concerned with issuing entry permits for ships heading to the port of Hodeidah, which is under the control of the Houthi militia, at the end of next August, as a result of a lack of funding.

"The United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism in Yemen urgently needs additional funds to continue its work," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said during a press conference.

He added that the mission, "with its current resources, will have to suspend operations at the end of August," noting that it needs $3.5 million for its operations from September until the end of the year.

Dujarric stated, "The mission is an essential service that facilitates the flow of commercial goods to the Yemeni Red Sea ports," which are under the control of the Houthis in the west of the country.

He stated that, "since 2016, the UN mission has cleared more than 1,600 ships to ensure that essential items such as food, fuel and other commercial goods reach Yemeni men, women and children."

The UN spokesperson pointed out that Yemen imports nearly 90 percent of its food needs.  The Security Council has often expressed its commitment to facilitating these imports, most recently in Resolution 2624.