Topic: The Situation in Yemen
Country: Côte d’Ivoire
Delegate Name: Sara Vargas
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Côte d'Ivoire position papers GLIMUN 2017 committees
The situation in Yemen began with the failure Ali Abdullah Saleh to hand his government power over to Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi. The Yemeni people started to rebel against the Saudi-backed government by forming their own group named The Houthi Movement. The Houthi movement, which had fought with Abdullah for precious land, fought once again when Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi came into control. The movement’s goal was to take control of the northern heartland of Saada province. These sides of Yemen have been battled “on-and-off since 2004” although the majority of the fighting was “confined to the Houthis’ stronghold, northern Yemen’s impoverished Saada province” (Yemen Conflict). The UN reports 7,600 people killed and close to 42,000 others injured since the rebel movement of the Hadi and Houthi forces. According to UNHCR, “There has been some movement of people fleeing Yemen to Somalia and Djibouti”. According to “War and Conflict” The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate with no end in sight as “almost 21 million Yemenis are in need of assistance”.
Côte D’ivoire has a bilateral agreement with the United States and we support all their efforts to help aid the Yemeni people. Côte D’ivoire agrees specifically with United States position that “Saudi Arabia bears heavy responsibility for the crisis for its “ruthless but unwinnable war” (Washington Post). However, there are somethings that the U.S. has endorsed, that Cote D’ivoire does not. The United States supports the Saudi-imposed blockade on Yemen that has “allowed only a trickle of relief supplies to reach the country, putting millions of people at risk of starvation (World Post). Côte D’ivoire empathizes with the Yemenis starvation and needs for humanitarian assistance and we call the Special Political and Decolonization Committee to empathize with us.
Cote D’ivoire proposes that the United Nations rule in favor of the Houthi movement. President Ali Abdullah Saleh has been in governmental power for 33 years and last of these years being unjust. The people of Yemen are protesting for a new president, that will care for the needs of the country. When the people’s needs are met, the destruction will be limited. Côte D’ivoire proposes a solution that encourages peace talks. If peace can be achieved between the nations then terrorism will decrease in surrounding countries as well as the humanitarian needs of safety will be met.
