United Nations warns Yemen risks sliding back into a wider conflict

Friday 14 August 2026 - 08:18

By: Azzat Manal

United Nations warns Yemen risks sliding back into a wider conflict

Yemen is facing a growing risk of renewed large-scale conflict after several years of relative calm, the United Nations has warned. UN Special Envoy Hans Grundberg told the Security Council that recent military escalation could quickly undermine years of efforts to reduce tensions and urged the country's rival parties to return to negotiations.

According to the United Nations, fighting has intensified along several front lines, while attacks in areas including Marib, Hadramout and Mokha have caused civilian and military casualties. Grundberg also warned that Yemen could become more deeply involved in a wider regional confrontation at a time when trade and energy flows are already being disrupted by instability around the Strait of Hormuz.

The UN envoy called for an immediate reduction in tensions, a stronger ceasefire and an end to attacks affecting commercial shipping and cross-border strikes. He also urged the parties to reactivate a UN-supported military coordination mechanism and respect their obligations to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Grundberg stressed that a negotiated solution remains possible. He called for the resumption of oil exports, the reopening of commercial flights to and from Sana'a airport and the continued access of commercial vessels to Yemeni ports, arguing that these measures could contribute to greater economic and political stability.

The humanitarian situation is adding further pressure to an already fragile environment. UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher warned that hunger is increasing, health services are deteriorating and many families have exhausted their ability to cope with the crisis.

More than half of Yemen's population is now facing acute food insecurity, while around six million people are experiencing emergency levels of food deprivation, according to the information presented to the Security Council. In June, more than 60 percent of households reported that they did not have enough food.

Women and girls remain particularly vulnerable. Nearly 11 million women and girls are estimated to require humanitarian assistance, including hundreds of thousands of pregnant women. Access to reproductive healthcare remains severely limited, while shortages of functioning maternal health facilities are increasing the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth.

Health threats are also emerging in several parts of the country. In Marib, a measles outbreak has prompted authorities to declare a health emergency, adding another challenge to an already overstretched healthcare system.

The humanitarian response is further weakened by a severe funding shortage. The UN appeal for Yemen has received only a small portion of the financing required, forcing humanitarian organizations to reduce food assistance, close some health centers and scale back protection services.

Fletcher called on international donors to provide flexible and sustainable funding while urging all parties to facilitate humanitarian access and protect civilians.

Climate pressures are creating another layer of uncertainty. Changes in rainfall patterns, including the potential impact of El Niño, could reduce precipitation in agricultural areas, threatening crops, water availability and rural livelihoods.

The United Nations is therefore calling for a comprehensive political process led by Yemenis and supported by the international community. For the UN, preventing a return to full-scale conflict will require not only military de-escalation but also political negotiations, humanitarian assistance and measures aimed at stabilizing the country's economy and essential services.