The Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations (Information Section) Press Release , January 15, 2025: Pakistan also supported the UN and regional efforts, particularly by Saudi Arabia and Oman to reach a political settlement of the Yemeni conflict based on the agreed upon frameworks. In a statement during the UN Security Council briefing on Yemen, Ambassador Munir Akram, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, termed the humanitarian crisis in Yemen as “one of the gravest” in the world with nearly half the population — 17 million people —facing severe food insecurity, and with 3.5 million suffering from acute malnutrition. “The impact of climate change, including floods and droughts, further exacerbates the humanitarian crisis, displacing 4.5 million people,” he said. The Pakistan UN envoy underlined the need for a robust and coordinated international effort to address the humanitarian crisis. He also urged the donor countries to increase their contributions to the 2025 humanitarian response plan for Yemen. Pakistan expressed deep concern on the Israeli airstrikes on Yemen’s civilian infrastructure, including Sana’a International Airport, Red Sea ports and power stations and said that these have deepened the dire humanitarian and political crisis in Yemen. “We are also deeply concerned over Houthi attacks on commercial and maritime vessels in the Red Sea, which threaten global trade, regional stability and the environment,” Ambassador Akram said. Pakistan’s top UN envoy said that protracted conflict in Yemen had led to a multi-dimensional crisis, including economic collapse, climate impacts and one of the worst humanitarian emergencies in modern history. He noted that the significant progress was made in December 2023 peace negotiations, which led to vital agreements to stop hostilities through a nationwide ceasefire. He emphasized the need for preserving these gains, by establishing a roadmap and fully implementing commitments to foster sustainable peace in the country. Ambassador Akram reminded the Security Council that the situation in Yemen cannot be viewed in isolation from the broader regional dynamics, including the ongoing Israeli military onslaught in Gaza. He also conveyed Pakistan’s concern on the detention of United Nations and humanitarian personnel by the Houthis in violation of international humanitarian law and called for their immediate and unconditional release. He termed diplomacy and dialogue as the only viable paths to achieving lasting peace in Yemen.