Yemen, Central Emergency Response Fund, Sudan & other topics - Daily Press Briefing | United Nations

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights: Secretary-General Statement/Yemen Yemen Trip Announcement Central Emergency Response Fund Security Council/Ukraine Sudan South Sudan Occupied Palestinian Territory Lebanon/Israel Sustainable Transport Youth Peace and Security International Days Financial Contribution SECRETARY-GENERAL STATEMENT/YEMEN The Secretary-General is gravely concerned about the continued arbitrary detention of 59 United Nations personnel, in addition to dozens of NGO, civil society, and diplomatic mission personnel. He condemns the referral by the Houthi de facto authorities of United Nations personnel to their special criminal court. The UN personnel have been held incommunicado, some for years, without any due process, in violation of international law. United Nations personnel, including those who are nationals of Yemen, are immune from legal process in respect of all acts performed by them in their official capacity. We call on the de facto authorities to rescind the referral and work in good faith toward the immediate release of all detained personnel of the UN, NGOs and diplomatic community. The United Nations remains committed to supporting the people of Yemen and delivering principled humanitarian assistance. YEMEN Following recent developments in Hadramout and Al-Mahra in the eastern region of Yemen, the UN Special Envoy, Hans Grundberg, today highlighted the need for all actors to exercise restraint and de-escalate through dialogue. This came during meetings he held in Riyadh with the Yemeni Foreign Minister Shaya Zindani, the Saudi Ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al Jaber, the UAE Ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al-Zaabi. He also met with representatives of the permanent five members of the Security Council in Saudi Arabia and other diplomats. He noted that the eastern region of Yemen is a vital area, both politically and economically and underscored the need to preserve the space where Yemeni parties can discuss in support of stability and in the interest of Yemeni people. Grundberg reaffirmed his continued engagement with Yemeni, regional, and international actors to support de-escalation and advance prospects for a negotiated political settlement to the conflict in Yemen. TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT Later today, the Secretary-General will be leaving New York for travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Oman. He will arrive in Riyadh on Wednesday, 10 December. There he will hold bilateral meetings with the Saudi leadership, including His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to discuss a number of pressing regional issues. From Saudi Arabia, the Secretary-General will travel to Iraq on 13 December to mark the closure of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI). Mr. Guterres will express gratitude to the Mission’s staff members and to the government and people of Iraq for hosting UNAMI for 22 years. While in Baghdad, he will have bilateral meetings with the leaders of the government of Iraq, including with the Prime Minister of Iraq, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. The Secretary-General will return to Riyadh to participate in the 11th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations taking place on 14 and 15 December. The Forum, convened under the theme “Two decades of dialogue for humanity: Advancing a new era of mutual respect and understanding in a multipolar world,” marks the twentieth anniversary of the Alliance of Civilizations. Prior to leaving the region, the Secretary-General is also scheduled to visit Muscat. There he will meet the Sultan of Oman, His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq Al Said, on 15 December to discuss regional issues, including the situation in Yemen. Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date=2025-12-09


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