Some 17 million Yemenis did not know if and where they would get their next meal, nearly 7 million were facing the threat of famine, and 16 million lacked access to water, he continued, also adding:
Only 45 per cent of health facilities remained functioning and some 1.2 million public employees, including health workers and teachers, had been paid erratically or not at all since last October.
The war continued to be vicious and brutal, with frequent disregard for international humanitarian law, he said. In 2017, the number of air strikes per month was three times higher than in 2016, and monthly reports of armed clashes were up by more than 50 per cent.
Despite extraordinary challenges, more than 120 aid partners had assisted 5.9 million people.
The cholera response had established 222 cholera treatment centres and 926 oral rehydration points across the country.
He called on the Member States to pressure parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and advocated for civil servants across the country to be paid immediately. Strengthening accountability was essential, he added, welcoming the creation of an independent body to investigate alleged human rights violations.
Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, said Yemen was going through a critical and agonizing period.
Hopes of reopening airport
Reviewing his recent visits to Egypt, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, he said there was still consensus on the need to reach a political solution and to support the United Nations-sponsored peace process.
However, certain parties were still taking advantage of internal divisions and putting personal interests ahead of the need for peace.
With political tensions undermining State institutions, immediate measures were needed to prevent the humanitarian situation from deteriorating and save Yemen from further violence.
He said the parties were being urged to agree to measures that would, among other things, secure the flow of humanitarian aid, payment of salaries to civil servants and control the smuggling of weapons.
The proposal also called for the safe and uninterrupted functioning of Hodeida that would be handed over to a committee of respected Yemeni security and economic figures, working under United Nations oversight and guidance.
In that regard, he proposed a meeting that would take place in a third country.
International support for a full and comprehensive solution and for the efforts of the United Nations was unwavering, he said.
What was missing was for the parties to the conflict to demonstrate their intention to end the war and put the national interest above personal gains.
Blaming the United Nations or the international community would not secure peace, nor would posturing for the media.
The representative of Uruguay said parties to the conflict must resume peace talks without delay, knowing that they must make concessions.
Countries with influence on the parties must cooperate as well.
Emphasizing the plight of women and children in Yemen, he said the Council had the means and the power to set up an impartial and transparent investigative mechanism into violations of international humanitarian law.
Recalling the presidential statement issued by the Council on 9 August, he appealed for an immediate cessation of hostilities that would pave the way to humanitarian assistance and political negotiations.
Dire and complex humanitarian and health situation
The representative of Bolivia said the situation in Yemen was getting worse in an alarming fashion while the international community remained indifferent.
He expressed alarm at the military targeting of homes and public spaces, as well as the situation of migrants from the Horn of Africa.
Abdulmalik Al-Mekhlafi, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Yemen, said the humanitarian and health situation in Yemen was dire and complex, also adding that:
Iran sought to destroy the Yemeni Government and replace it with recklessness and chaos but Yemen would continue to reject such tyranny.
The Government had made considerable reconstruction efforts and had improved security and health sectors under the leadership of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, he continued.
Food was available in the markets but militia continued to block access and pillage funds from the central bank. The war had become lucrative for militia while the Yemeni people continued to suffer from famine, die from preventable diseases. Houthi rebels were earning millions, he stressed, also emphasizing:
Houthis receiving aid from Iran
Despite the many security challenges, Yemen would open the airport on the condition that Government forces would be in control of its security.
The people of Taiz were being shelled, their city destroyed, and its mosques and hospitals obliterated to rubble, he said. More than 4,000 had been killed in Taiz alone and yet there were no calls from the international community to restore peace.
Yemen was working to address the humanitarian crisis, the cholera outbreak and facilitate the delivery of treatment and humanitarian aid. He urged States to fulfil their pledge commitments and stressed the need to address the root causes of the crisis, restore legitimacy and State institutions and save the country from being kidnapped by Tehran militia.
