Resolution on the humanitarian situation in Yemen

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on the humanitarian situation in Yemen.

The text adopted in plenary was tabled by the EPP, S&D, ECR, ALDE, GUE/NGL, Greens/EFA and EFDD groups.

Parliament stated that the humanitarian situation in Yemen is catastrophic, 17 million people in Yemen required food assistance, with 7 million of that number facing a ‘food security emergency’ and 2.2 million children suffering severe acute malnourishment with one child dying every ten minutes of preventable causes.

Yemen’s civilian infrastructure and institutions have been heavily affected by the war and are increasingly unable to deliver basic service.

The country is experiencing a second outbreak of cholera which is threatening its population.

The situation in Yemen carries grave risks for the stability of the region, in particular that of the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea and the wider Middle East. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has been able to benefit from the deterioration of the political and security situation in Yemen, expanding its presence and increasing the number and scale of its terrorist attacks. AQAP and the Islamic State ISIS/Daesh has established its presence in Yemen and has carried out terrorist attacks.

Concerned at the alarming deterioration in the humanitarian situation in Yemen, Members urged all parties to seek an immediate ceasefire and to return to the negotiating table.

Parliament condemned all terror attacks and violence against civilians in the strongest terms, including bombardments, the use of cluster munitions, rocket, shelling, sniper fire and missile attacks and the reported use of anti-personnel mines.

The Government of Yemen is urged to assume its responsibilities in the fight against ISIS/Daesh and AQAP.

Parliament reiterated its call on all sides and their regional and international backers to comply with international humanitarian law and international human rights law, to ensure the protection of civilians and to refrain from directly targeting civilian infrastructure, in particular medical facilities and water systems.

It recalled that there can be no military solution to the conflict in Yemen and that the crisis can only be solved through an inclusive, Yemeni-led negotiation process, involving all the parties concerned. Parliament called on Saudi Arabia and Iran to work to improve bilateral relations, and to seek to work together to end the fighting in Yemen.

EU’s call: Parliament supported the EU’s call on all parties to the conflict to take all necessary steps to prevent and respond to all forms of violence, including sexual and gender-based violence, in situations of armed conflict. It called on all parties to the conflict to work to remove all logistical and financial obstacles affecting the import and distribution of food and medical supplies to civilians in need.

According to Members, it is urgent that the EU step up humanitarian assistance to the population across the country to respond to the rising of the Yemenite population in coordination with the United Nations.

Members called on the Vice President of the Commission/High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to urgently propose an integrated EU strategy for Yemen and called in this regard for the appointment of an EU special representative for Yemen.