Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator Valerie Amos Statement on the humanitarian pause in Yemen [EN/AR]
(New York, 12 May 2015): I welcome the beginning of the humanitarian pause in Yemen which should enable humanitarian agencies and their partners to step up the delivery of lifesaving humanitarian assistance to people in desperate need.
I call on all parties to the conflict to respect this vital pause in hostilities. This pause will provide a respite for civilians and allow the delivery of food, medical supplies and other essential items to people who have been trapped in conflict zones.
My thanks to the UN Member States which are supporting our efforts and enabling humanitarian agencies and partners on the ground to provide life-saving assistance. Given the role of the United Nations in coordinating emergency relief activities in an impartial and neutral way, I request that humanitarian assistance to Yemen be routed through existing UN and international humanitarian organization channels. It is essential that humanitarian assistance is not politicized.