UN Special Envoy for Yemen Hans Grundberg has expressed deep concern over the Houthis’ escalation against commercial shipping, and along frontlines with government forces, stressing the need for “proactive and pragmatic” steps to pave the way for peace.

Briefing the UN Security Council, proactive and pragmatic Grundberg said his recent efforts had focused on reducing tensions on the ground, establishing a pathway for talks between the parties, and boosting regional and international support for stability in Yemen.

While frontlines had been relatively quiet, he noted troubling incidents, most notably a major July 25 attack on the Al-Aleb front in Saada governorate, which caused heavy casualties on both sides.

He pointed to Houthi military build-ups around the port city of Hodeidah as evidence of the need for effective de-escalation and security dialogue. The UN-facilitated Military Coordination Committee, he said, remains vital in discussing ways to reduce tensions and prepare for future ceasefire negotiations.

Grundberg stressed that commitment to the December 2023 roadmap requires ongoing confidence-building measures and improvements to daily life. He praised civil society efforts to open key roads, including one linking Al-Bayda and Abyan provinces, and called for the swift reopening of other vital routes to ease travel and trade.

On the economy, he warned Yemen urgently needs reforms to ensure the flow of goods and services, adding that continued escalation and economic fragmentation “benefit no one” and weigh heavily on families and the private sector. He commended the Central Bank and government in Aden for stabilizing the currency and prices of basic goods, expressing hope this marks the start of a sustainable recovery.

On the other hand, the UN envoy criticized Houthi unilateral moves, including issuing new 50-rial coins and 200-rial banknotes, as deepening the fragmentation of Yemen’s currency and complicating future unification talks. Dialogue, he insisted, is the only path to lasting solutions.

The envoy underscored the need for full compliance with the UN arms embargo, citing the recent interception of a large weapons shipment from Iran to the Houthis. He urged the group to allow the immediate return of surviving crew members from the MV Rubymar, sunk in the Red Sea last month in attacks claimed by the Houthis.

Linking the escalation to the Gaza conflict, Grundberg warned Yemen must be shielded from regional turmoil. Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, missile strikes on Israel, and Israeli responses have, he said, devastated port facilities under Houthi control, tripled cargo discharge times in Al-Salif, and sharply reduced vessel traffic.

He also condemned the continued detention of 23 UN staff and other humanitarian and diplomatic workers, calling it “unacceptable” and demanding their unconditional release. A sustainable solution for Yemen, he said, is “not only possible but urgent.”