Yemen in Transition
Description:
Presented in partnership with Médecins Sans Frontières
Despite the Yemeni Government’s commitment to the 2014 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan and ongoing efforts toward a sustainable political transition, the country’s humanitarian situation remains dire. As Yemen struggles to sustain a series of ceasefires, strengthen its central authority, and provide humanitarian assistance to its population, violence between Yemen’s armed forces and various armed groups threatens to destabilize an already fragile transition.
According to Mr. Ismail Ould Cheick Ahmed, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, “the scale of current needs makes Yemen one of the largest humanitarian emergencies globally. In 2014, more than half of Yemen’s population will need some form of humanitarian assistance.” Over recent weeks, violence has escalated with reports of indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks by Yemen’s armed forces. As of 26 February, the Government of Yemen had not yet granted access to humanitarian agencies, and increasing insecurity makes delivery of humanitarian assistance precarious. Anticipating the potential impact of the escalated violence on the political transition, the UN Security Council announced a resolution on 27 February establishing sanctions on those obstructing or undermining the transition process.
In light of this rapidly evolving context, the Humanitarian Assistance Webcast will explore the following questions:
- What strategies and legal mechanisms can be implemented in order to minimize disproportionate and indiscriminate attacks and promote accountability for violations of international law resulting from such attacks?
- What are the possible avenues to explore for humanitarian agencies if access continues to be restricted by the Government of Yemen?
- What are the implications of a sanctions-based approach to maintaining the progress of a political transition process?
Expert Commentators:
- Dr. Francoise Bouchet-Saulnier, Médecins Sans Frontières, Legal Director
- Mr. Johannes Van Der Klaauw, Yemen Humanitarian Coordinator
- Mr. Nassar Arrabyee, Journalist, President and Founder of Yemen Alaan
Resources
- Situation Report No.4 - Conflict and displacement in Amran and Al Dhale'e Governorates UN OCHA Yemen, March 18, 2014
- Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Nasser Arrabyee, March 11, 2014 Would UN Sanctions Help Yemen’s Transition?
- Irin News, 24 February 2014 Conflict in Yemen’s north threatens political transition
- UN Security Council - 7119th Meeting (AM), 26 February 2014 Security Council Adopts Resolution 2140 (2014), Welcoming Yemen’s Peaceful Transition Towards New Constitution, General Elections
- Yemen’s National Dialogue Middle East Institute - Policy Paper Series, February 2014
- The Practical Guide to Humanitarian Law, Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders Françoise Bouchet-Saulnier, Editor
In partnership with:
The objective of the Advanced Training Program on Humanitarian Action (ATHA) is to enhance the knowledge of NGOs and other relevant actors operating in the humanitarian field, and to create greater awareness of the relationship between development cooperation and humanitarian operations in complex political emergencies.
