Sayyed Al-Houthi Meets Griffiths, Slams Weak UN Response to Saudi Blockade

By Staff, Agencies 

The leader of Yemen’s Ansarullah revolutionary movement Sayyed Abdul Malik Al-Houthi denounced the United Nations’ weak response to the Saudi-led blockade imposed on Yemen, which is grappling with the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

During a meeting with UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths in Sana'a on Sunday, Al-Houthi referred to the UN’s reaction to the Saudi siege, which blocks the entry of food, medicine and petroleum products, criticizing the UN for turning a blind eye to the blackmailing of the Yemenis.

He further stressed the Yemeni people's right to have access to oil derivatives, medical supplies and foodstuffs, “whatever the circumstances might be.”

“The blockade is a collective punishment and a procedure that violates international decisions and humanitarian norms and contradicts all laws.”

He also decried attempts to link the humanitarian issue to political and military files “as an explicit confiscation” of the basic rights of the Yemeni people, stressing that it is an “unacceptable” equation.

Al-Houthi also urged the UN to take action to provide access to basic needs for the Yemenis, stressing that addressing the humanitarian issue is “the actual entrance to all files.”

In parallel, the revolutionary said if the Saudi-led coalition thinks that its siege on Yemen would strengthen its position, “then it is delusional”, noting that the ongoing blockade reveals the kingdom's true intentions and proves that it doesn’t want peace.