WASHINGTON – The outgoing Donald Trump administration’s decision to classify Yemen’s Huthi rebels as terrorists will only cause more suffering for the people of the war-torn nation, said Joe Biden’s nominee for national security adviser yesterday.
The rebels control much of Yemen and have faced an offensive from United States ally Saudi Arabia, with millions of Yemenis depending on aid to survive.
Designating the Huthis as a terrorist group is expected to halt many transactions with Huthi authorities, including bank transfers, paying medical personnel, and for food and fuel, due to fears of US prosecution.
“Huthi commanders need to be held accountable, but designating the whole organisation will only inflict more suffering on Yemeni people and impede diplomacy critical to end the war,” tweeted Biden nominee Jake Sullivan.
The designation is set to come into force on Tuesday, the eve of the inauguration of Biden, whose aides had hoped to mount a fresh push to end Yemen’s six-year war.
It is also seen as complicating the incoming US president’s promised efforts to restart diplomacy with Iran, which has links to the Huthis.
The terrorist classification has drawn criticism from aid groups, the European Union and many others over fears it will exacerbate the already dire humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
“What is the likely humanitarian impact? The answer is a large-scale famine on a scale that we have not seen for nearly 40 years,” said Mark Lowcock, the United Nations undersecretary general for humanitarian affairs, on Thursday.
He said exemptions to allow aid agencies to deliver supplies, as suggested by Washington, would not be sufficient to avoid a famine, adding: “What would prevent it? A reversal of the decision.” – AFP, January 17, 2021
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