2024-01-04 08:25:09
The United Nations warned on Wednesday against escalating tensions in the Red Sea where navigation is disrupted by “threats” from Houthi rebels.
“The United Nations continues to warn of the adverse political, security, economic and humanitarian repercussions of military escalation in the Red Sea and the risk of exacerbating regional tensions”underlined UN Under-Secretary-General Khaled Khiari during a meeting of the Security Council.
He indicated that the “Continued Houthi threats to maritime shipping, coupled with the risk of further military escalation, remain of grave concern and could potentially affect millions of people in Yemen, the region and around the world.”
For his part, the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, denounced the Houthi attacks, which “are not acceptable”. “Ships must be allowed to trade throughout the world without hindrance and in accordance with international law,” he added during this meeting devoted to the latest developments in the Red Sea.
In a joint statement released earlier today, a 12-nation coalition led by the United States called on Houthi rebels to immediately cease their “illegal, unacceptable and deeply destabilizing” attacks in the Red Sea.
“Our message must be clear: we call for an immediate end to these illegal attacks and the release of illegally detained vessels and crews,” indicated the signatories of the communiqué, namely the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
According to the press release, nearly 15% of global maritime trade passes through the Red Sea, including 8% of global grain trade, 12% of global maritime oil trade and 8% of global liquefied natural gas trade.
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