The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS)
Bringing life-saving supplies into Yemen
In 2016, the United Nations Verification and Inspection Mechanism (UNVIM) cleared hundreds of commercial vessels to offload much needed supplies, in support of the response to the humanitarian crisis in Yemen.
The humanitarian situation in Yemen continues to deteriorate.
Over 18 million people are in need, including 10.3 million people in acute need, and 14.1 million people are food insecure. While humanitarian actors continue to provide assistance to those most affected by the current crisis, the vast majority of the needs of the Yemeni people are met through commercial deliveries into the country.
In order to facilitate the inflow of commercial goods into Yemen, UNOPS established UNVIM in December 2015 on behalf of the Government of Yemen, the UN Member States, and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The mechanism, run by UNOPS since 15 December 2015, facilitates commercial maritime traffic to Yemeni ports that are not under the control of the Government of Yemen, and ensure compliance with UN Security Council resolutions.
By the end of 2016, the mechanism has cleared over 370 commercial vessels, successfully offloading over 6.6 million metric tonnes of food, fuel and supplies to the Yemeni ports of Hodeidah, Ras Isa and Saleef.
In October 2016, the Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O’Brien, called upon Member States to continue extending their support to UNVIM, stating: “let us back something that is working.”
In January 2017, the USG called on Security Council Members to: “Facilitate the increase of commercial imports of essential supplies; facilitate the import of cranes to Hodeidah and support the rehabilitation of the port; and extend UNVIM’s mandate beyond April.”
*Figures referenced in this article are taken from UNOPS annual report and are accurate as of 31 December 2017.
