Barran Press
The UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, warned on Thursday of a potential "serious" oil spill and an "unprecedented" environmental disaster as a result of the Houthi group's attack on a Greek oil tanker late last month.
The warning came during his monthly briefing to the UN Security Council on the latest developments and peace efforts in Yemen. He stated, "One of the particularly worrying developments recently is the targeting of the Greek oil tanker "M.V. Sounion" by Ansar Allah (Houthis), forcing the crew to abandon the ship. This poses an imminent threat of a serious oil spill and an unprecedented environmental disaster."
The Greek-flagged tanker "Sounion" poses an environmental risk after being damaged in an attack by Houthi forces on August 21st. The tanker carries approximately one million barrels of crude oil. The Houthis claimed they mined the tanker with explosives.
Since last November, the Houthi group, internationally designated as a terrorist organization, has launched missile and drone attacks against commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Gulf of Aden.
On the military front, the UN envoy said that "there has been no improvement in the military situation since my last briefing. We continue to observe concerning military activities on the front lines, along with escalating rhetoric between the warring parties."
Economically, he stated that "the agreement reached between the parties on July 23rd regarding economic de-escalation has helped to avert a severe crisis. However, the current situation is unstable, and the economic conditions of the majority of Yemenis continue to deteriorate."
Amidst these "difficult" circumstances, the UN envoy said, "My primary goal remains to mediate a lasting and just solution to the conflict in Yemen. Unfortunately, the ongoing war in Gaza and the associated regional escalation are complicating these efforts."
He added, "The International Day of Peace, which we will celebrate on September 21st, highlights our shared responsibility to prioritize peace and promote stability in Yemen. This is not just a symbolic occasion; it is a call to action. The Yemeni people deserve the peace they have long awaited."
He reiterated his office's willingness to "conduct further consultations with political parties and civil society to strengthen a vision for a comprehensive peace process in Yemen. To date, these consultations have included hundreds of Yemenis."
Grundberg also confirmed his continued work "with unwavering determination. Specifically, my office will work to assist the parties in implementing the July understanding on de-escalation in the banking sector and Yemenia Airlines, through continued engagement with the relevant representatives."
Regarding abductions, he said, "More than 100 days have passed since Ansar Allah (Houthis) began a campaign of arrests targeting Yemenis involved in essential efforts, including humanitarian assistance, development, human rights, peacebuilding, and education."
In this context, the UN envoy renewed the clear calls of the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights for the Houthis to immediately and unconditionally release all detainees.