Barran Press
Yemen is teetering on the edge of a "very dangerous" stage, according to the country's Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Waeed Badhib. Speaking at the UN's Political Forum on Sustainable Development, Badhib attributed this perilous situation to the decade-long Houthi insurgency, which has ravaged the nation's infrastructure and inflicted immense suffering on its people.
"The Houthi militia, by prolonging the conflict, has extinguished the aspirations of a nation yearning for peace and development," Badhib asserted. "It has shattered the dreams of a noble people who crave progress, freedom, and a state governed by law. They long for a future marked by stability, prosperity, and peace, and a role in safeguarding international security."
Despite some progress in humanitarian and prisoner exchanges, Badhib described the situation as fragile, hovering between war and peace. He accused the Houthis of waging an economic war, targeting oil export terminals with drones, depriving Yemen of vital resources for development and improving living standards.
The Houthis, Badhib claimed, have disregarded international norms and laws, threatening international maritime traffic in the Red Sea and inflicting significant economic losses on global trade and investment.
He highlighted the stark reality presented in Yemen's first voluntary report on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), revealing the catastrophic economic and socio-humanitarian consequences of the Houthi war and its violations.
Badhib emphasized the Yemeni government's unwavering commitment to comprehensive and sustainable peace, supporting UN and international efforts to end the conflict. He called for the restoration of Yemen's sovereignty and institutions, and for the country to resume its role in ensuring international navigation, global peace, and economic prosperity.
He stressed the importance of prioritizing full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, translating commitments made during the 2023 SDG Summit Political Declaration into concrete actions that fully support developing countries in achieving the SDGs.
The annual meeting in New York brings together nations to assess their progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its associated SDGs.