Ireland has been monitoring the situation in Yemen with concern, in particular in recent months as the humanitarian situation has reached crisis point.
I am extremely concerned about allegations of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law during the conflict. Ireland has been consistent in calling for an impartial, international investigation into these reports. Unfortunately, consensus at an international level to launch such an investigation has not yet been possible.
However, Ireland will continue to call, including through the EU, on all parties to this conflict to cooperate with the National Commission of Inquiry, as well as with the enhanced OHCHR Yemen Office, and to allow investigators full access to all parts of Yemen.
The Foreign Affairs Council in April agreed Conclusions reaffirming its serious concern about the situation in Yemen and urged all parties to lay down arms and negotiate a peace agreement. The EU further committed to increasing its engagement with Yemen, once a political solution to the conflict is agreed. In this regard, Ireland commends the efforts of UN Special Envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed and his team, who continue to work towards a peace agreement that is acceptable to all parties to the conflict.
My predecessor, Minister Flanagan, discussed Yemen with the UAE Minister for Foreign Affairs, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on a number of occasions, and with the Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Nizar bin Obaid Madani, in November of last year, when he raised concerns about the humanitarian impact of the conflict in Yemen.
I will also use any appropriate opportunity to raise these concerns in the future.
Finally, Ireland will also continue to provide humanitarian assistance to Yemen. In April of this year, Minister of State McHugh announced additional humanitarian funding of €4 million at a pledging conference in Geneva. This brings Ireland’s contribution to the humanitarian response in Yemen since 2015, when the conflict began, to almost €10 million.
I will continue to give a high priority to the conflict in Yemen, and in particular continue to call for all violations of human rights and international humanitarian law to be investigated, and for the perpetrators to be held accountable.
