The US, UK and France show their disappointment with the Houthis for blocking Yemeni oil exports

MADRID, June 28 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The United States, the United Kingdom and France have expressed their disappointment with the Houthi insurgency for blocking Yemeni oil exports, something that “exacerbates the serious humanitarian and economic crisis” that the country is going through.

However, the three countries have celebrated the “positive developments” that have taken place in the country, such as the facilitation of the transport of goods in the port of Al Hudaydah or the announcement of new international flights from the airport of Sanaa, the Yemeni capital. , which has allowed direct flights to Saudi Arabia for the first time in seven years.

“In the context of these positive developments, it is particularly disappointing to see the Houthis exacerbate the grave humanitarian and economic crisis in Yemen by continuing to block Yemeni oil exports,” they said in a joint statement posted on the respective Twitter accounts of the Embassy of the United States, the United Kingdom and France in Yemen.

“It is critical that Yemen can build a stronger economy, provide basic public services and livelihoods for all Yemenis, as well as allow the private sector to operate without interference or intimidation. The ambassadors of the three countries call on the Houthis to cease immediately any actions that could further damage Yemen’s economy and to contact the United Nations,” they added.

In addition, they have called on the leaders of the Huthi insurgency to ensure that Yemenis in both the north and south “receive their salaries and improve their livelihoods”, and that they lift restrictions on the movement of women, particularly humanitarian workers, because blocking aid only “worsens” the “unnecessary suffering” of the population.

The ambassadors have reiterated that there is no military solution to the conflict, and have encouraged both parties to start talks aimed at a political process.

“The international community is committed to supporting the progress of a sustainable UN-led peace process in Yemen. We call on the Houthis to completely abandon any military option. Any return to conflict will lead to their complete isolation by the the international community,” they said.

According to data provided in the statement, more than 21 million Yemenis are in a vulnerable situation and need both humanitarian assistance and protection, and have called on both sides to allow “unrestricted and unimpeded” access to humanitarian aid.

The improvement in relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, the main allies of the Yemeni government and the Houthis respectively, have managed to appease a war that has ended up plunging what was one of the poorest countries in the world into the worst humanitarian catastrophe in the today, according to the United Nations.

The conflict has left almost 380,000 dead, either from the fighting or from hunger and disease; more than 85,000 of them children, to which must be added four million displaced persons, according to data considered by UN agencies.