War-torn Yemen is in imminent danger of the worst famine the world has seen in decades, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned on Friday.
“In the absence of immediate action, millions of lives may be lost,” Mr Guterres said of the country that has endured a five-year war between Iranian-backed Houthi rebels and government forces.
The government in Yemen is supported by a Saudi-led coalition, assisted by Western powers including the United States.
Outgoing President Donald Trump’s administration has made isolating its arch-foe Tehran a centrepiece of US regional policy.
The warning from Mr Guterres, the latest in a series from the UN on Yemen, comes amid reports that the Trump administration is considering labelling the Houthis a terrorist organisation.
That could cripple aid deliveries and make things even worse in Yemen, aid groups say.
In his statement, Mr Guterres made only indirect reference to this possibility.
“I urge all those with influence to act urgently on these issues to stave off catastrophe, and I also request that everyone avoids taking any action that could make the already dire situation even worse,” the secretary-general said.
Questioned later by reporters however about a possible US designation of the Houthis, Mr Guterres warned against further destabilising a “very fragile situation”.
“We believe that any other unilateral initiative will probably not be positive. I don’t think we should rock the boat at the present moment,” he said.
Mr Guterres’ statement said reasons for the heightened threat of famine include a sharp drop in funding for the UN-coordinated relief program, the instability of the Yemeni currency and “impediments” for relief organisations imposed by warring parties.
The Houthi rebels control the Yemeni capital Sanaa and much of the north after a grinding war that has created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
If the US does label the Houthis a terror group, that would mean many countries would have trouble interacting with the rebels.
The impact on the Houthis, who are already under US sanctions, may be limited. But ordinary Yemenis could pay the price, with further damage to aid programs already cut back due to record-low funding during the coronavirus pandemic.
Everything from dealing with Houthi officials, handling taxes, using the banking system, paying health workers, buying food and fuel and arranging internet services could be affected, humanitarian groups say.
