Yemeni envoy calls for global pressure on Houthis to end siege

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Yemeni government has urged the international community to step up pressure on the Houthi movement to lift its ongoing blockades, particularly in Taiz Province, and allow crucial humanitarian aid into the country, Yemen's ambassador to Indonesia said Tuesday.

Speaking during a visit to the ANTARA News Agency in Jakarta, Ambassador Salem Ahmed Abdulrahman Balfakeeh highlighted the severe toll of the blockade on local populations, noting that restricted access to basic necessities and water has significantly worsened civilian suffering.

"We call on the international community to pressure the Houthis to lift the blockades imposed in Yemen, particularly in Taiz Province," Balfakeeh said, urging global powers to facilitate the unrestricted delivery of humanitarian supplies.

The ambassador accused Houthi forces of driving civilians from their homes, carrying out arbitrary detentions, and committing acts of torture.

He asserted that strong international backing is vital for the Yemeni government to restore order and mitigate the fallout from years of conflict.

As part of its strategy, Yemen is lobbying the United Nations to designate the Houthis as an international terrorist organization.

Balfakeeh stressed that the proposal does not signal a rejection of peace, but rather reflects the failure of a decade of UN-led diplomacy.

Peace efforts conducted under UN auspices over the past 12 years have failed to produce the expected results, Balfakeeh said, charging that Houthi forces have repeatedly used temporary ceasefires to bolster their military strength.

The ambassador also appealed directly to Indonesia for humanitarian assistance and backing at the UN Security Council, while expressing optimism that the ongoing "Fajr Yemen" military operation would help stabilize the nation.

Welcoming the delegation, ANTARA President Director Abdul Hakim voiced concern over the escalating violence and called for a swift resolution to the crisis, noting that roughly 7,000 Indonesian nationals—mostly students—currently reside in Yemen.

"We hope that the tensions in Yemen will come to an end and that the country can move toward peace," Hakim said.

Translator: Katriana
Editor: Aditya Eko Sigit Wicaksono
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