Saferworld urges all sides in the current Yemen offensive to immediately cease military operations and return to the negotiating table with no preconditions.

The Saudi-led coalition airstrikes and ground offensive by Houthi and Saleh forces in Aden are contributing to the imminent economic, political, and humanitarian collapse of Yemen, and threatening the lives of hundreds of thousands of Yemeni civilians across the country. A vulnerable civilian population is in danger of being swept up in a protracted conflict that will only further polarise an already fractured society.

While the Saudi government are publicly stating that they are avoiding targeting civilians, the airstrikes are increasingly hitting civilian areas, including hospitals, schools, refugee camps, water systems, food stores and residential neighbourhoods, causing large numbers of civilian casualties. In a country where 90% of food is imported, and over 50% of the population is already malnourished, the no-fly zone and naval blockades imposed by the coalition of 10 will result in huge suffering and further loss of lives. Large proportions of the population are already internally displaced and without access to adequate sanitation and nutrition, and Yemenis seeking refuge in neighbouring countries are struggling to leave due to the blockades.

Aggression by Houthi and Saleh forces in the south of Yemen is causing widespread destruction and suffering for Yemeni citizens, and also resulting in high numbers of civilian casualties.

The coalition and supporters of the intervention, including the Arab League, the US and the UK, have stated that the strikes are intended to bring the Houthis back to the negotiating table. However, reports that the UN was holding peace talks in Sana’a that included all major political factions up until the day before the start of the airstrikes serve to question these intentions. The coalition and its supporters have failed to present a clear framework for negotiations, and the airstrikes and threatened ground invasion are also unlikely to demilitarise the Houthi movement or dismantle them as a social force.

“Learning from the failures of the GCC Initiative, long-term peace in Yemen can only be achieved through the promotion of an inclusive political process that promotes a decentralised framework for the state, based on good governance, transparency and access to basic services – including security and justice – for civilians throughout the country”, says Kate Nevens, Head of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Saferworld.

In order to find a peaceful solution to the current conflict, the following actions are necessary:

• All sides need to cease military operations and return to the negotiating table immediately.
• All sides (including the coalition) need to present plans for what a realistic framework for peace talks and peace process could be, publicise their framework, and formally open the lines of communications through the offices of the UN to re-start peace talks.
• Negotiations need to be without preconditions, observable by a third party, in a neutral third country.
• Negotiations need to be inclusive of all domestic actors, beyond just currently conflicting parties, including representative members of the Southern Movement.

Given the drivers of conflict that underpin Yemen’s current situation, progress will only be possible through inclusive discussions that build a consensus around a new plan to address grievances.

Failure to bring a halt to the recent escalation could signal a further deterioration in regional peace and security that will have long-term implications not just regionally but also internationally.

For any enquiries please contact Saferworld's Head of MENA Kate Nevens.

“Failure to bring a halt to the recent escalation in Yemen could signal a further deterioration in regional peace and security that will have long-term implications not just regionally but also internationally.”