UN warns of repercussions of designating Houthi militia as terrorist organization

The spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Stephane Dujarric, warned of the potential repercussions of the US State Department’s announcement to include the Houthi militia on the list of foreign terrorist organizations.

In a press conference held on Tuesday, Dujarric stressed the importance of ensuring the continued flow of humanitarian aid and civilian commercial activities in Yemen, in light of this classification, which could deepen the humanitarian crisis in the country.

Dujarric pointed out that "this designation must be coupled with appropriate safeguards to ensure the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance, as well as to enable civilians to access essential goods and services."

He stressed that the United Nations is focusing mainly on the humanitarian situation in Yemen, and is continuing its efforts to save lives in light of the ongoing crisis.

He stressed the need to preserve the role of the private sector in securing humanitarian needs, warning that any disruption in the arrival of commercial goods to Yemen could lead to catastrophic effects.

He explained that "about 19 million people in Yemen need life-saving humanitarian assistance, while 17 million people face the risk of famine, in a country that depends on imports for about 90% of its food needs."

It is noteworthy that these statements came a few hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the classification of the Houthi militia as a terrorist group, stressing that "Houthi activities threaten American civilian and military security in the Middle East, as well as threatening the stability of global maritime trade and the security of regional partners."