Esteemed co-hosts, Excellencies, Dear Colleagues,
I am honoured to attend today’s High-Level Pledging Event on the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen.
The conflict in Yemen has lasted for too many years and has caused extraordinary suffering to its people.
Active hostilities have subsided by now, but a lasting peace has still not been concluded. It is regrettable that the parties have failed to extend the truce beyond 2 October 2022. The truce delivered tangible benefits to the Yemeni people, including a substantial decrease of civilian casualties. We hope that a full-fledged war will not return to Yemen.
Only an inclusive political process can bring a lasting solution to the conflict. Therefore, it is vital that all parties show willingness to compromise and agree to a sustainable and nationwide ceasefire. There is no military solution to this conflict.
I would like to reiterate Estonia’s position that tremendous human suffering will end only when a credible political solution is found. Negotiations must start between parties. We therefore fully support the UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg and his efforts to achieve peace.
We note with grave concern that a majority of Yemen’s population, 21.6 million people, need humanitarian aid. This number is more than 16 times the population of my own country, Estonia, which illustrates the enormous and dire scale of needs. Because of the conflict, large parts of the country´s infrastructure and households has been destroyed, millions of people have been forced to leave their homes, and there are nearly 3 million internally displaced persons in the country. Moreover – Russia’s illegal aggression against Ukraine, which has had a dire impact also globally, has further exacerbated food shortages in the country. More than 11 million people in Yemen are food insecure. At times where the world is facing many natural hazards, disasters and devastating impacts of climate change, man made crises should never be allowed to happen.
Estonia has continued to provide humanitarian assistance to Yemen. Today, we commit 30 000 euros through WFP to alleviate food insecurity and hunger in Yemen.
I thank you.