United Nations Security Council Resolution 2451 – The situation in the Middle East

Resolution 2451 (2018)

The Security Council,

Recalling its resolutions 2014 (2011), 2051 (2012), 2140 (2014), 2175 (2014), 2201 (2015), 2204 (2015), 2216 (2015), 2266 (2016), 2342 (2017) and 2402 (2018)and the Statements of its President of 15 February 2013, 29 August 2014, 22 March 2015, 25 April 2016, 15 June 2017 and 15 March 2018 concerning Yemen,

Reaffirming its strong commitment to the unity, sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Yemen and its commitment to stand by the people of Yemen,

Reaffirming its support for and commitment to the work of the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen (the Special Envoy),

Reaffirming that the conflict in Yemen can be resolved only through an inclusive political process, as called for by relevant Security Council resolutions, including its resolution 2216 (2015), and statements as well as by the Gulf Co-operation Council initiative and implementation mechanism agreement and the outcomes of the comprehensive National Dialogue Conference,

Determining that the situation in Yemen continues to constitute a threat to regional and international peace and security,

1. Welcomes the consultations with the Government of Yemen and the Houthis convened by the Special Envoy in Stockholm from 6 to 13 December 2018, thanks the Government of Sweden for hosting the meeting, commends steps taken by regional and international leaders in support of the United Nations and notes the vital importance of making progress towards a political agreement to end the conflict and to relieve the humanitarian suffering of the Yemeni people;

2. Endorses the agreements reached by the parties on the city and governorate of Hodeidah and the ports of Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Issa; an executive mechanism on activating the prisoner exchange agreement; and a statement of understanding on Taiz, as set out in the Stockholm Agreement circulated as S/2018/1134;

3. Calls on the parties to implement the Stockholm Agreement according to the timelines determined in it, insists on the full respect by all parties of the ceasefire agreed for Hodeidah governorate, which came into force on 18 December 2018, and the mutual redeployment of forces to be carried out from the city of Hodeidah and the ports of Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Issa to agreed locations outside the city and the ports within 21 days of the ceasefire coming into force; a commitment not to bring any military reinforcements to the city, the ports of Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Issa, and the governorate; and a commitment to remove any military manifestations from the city, all of which is central to the successful implementation of the Stockholm Agreement, and further calls on the parties to continue to engage constructively, in good faith and without preconditions with the Special Envoy, including on continued work towards stabilising the Yemeni economy and on Sana’a airport, and participating in a next round of talks in January 2019;

4. Welcomes the Special Envoy’s presentation of a Framework for Negotiations in Stockholm following consultation with the parties, and further welcomes the Special Envoy’s plan to discuss it during the next round of talks to pave the way for the resumption of formal negotiations towards a political solution and underlines the importance of the full participation of women and the meaningful engagement of youth in the political process;

5. Authorises the Secretary-General to establish and deploy, for an initial period of 30 days from the adoption of this resolution, an advance team to begin monitoring and to support and facilitate the immediate implementation of the Stockholm Agreement, including the request for the United Nations to chair the Redeployment Coordination Committee and to update the Council within one week;

6. Requests the Secretary-General to submit proposals as soon as possible before 31 December 2018 on how the United Nations will fully support the Stockholm Agreement as requested by the parties, including, but not limited to: substantive monitoring operations for the ceasefire and mutual redeployment of forces from the city of Hodeidah and the ports of Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Issa; playing a leading role in supporting Yemen Red Sea Ports Corporation in management of and inspections at the ports of Hodeidah, Salif and Ras Issa; and strengthening the United Nations’ presence in the city of Hodeidah and Ports of Hodeidah, Salif and Ra s Issa, and to report to the Security Council on a weekly basis, invites Member States in a position to do so to assist the United Nations in carrying out these tasks, and recalls the commitment of the parties to facilitate and support the role of the Unit ed Nations in Hodeidah;

7. Requests the Secretary-General to report on progress regarding implementation of this resolution, including any breaches of commitments by the parties, on a weekly basis, as called for by the parties, until further notice, and expresses its intention to consider further measures, as necessary, to support implementation of this resolution and all other relevant Security Council resolutions and to alleviate the humanitarian situation and support a political solution to end the conflict;

8. Reiterates the need for the unhindered flow of commercial and humanitarian supplies and humanitarian personnel into and across the country, and in this regard, calls on the Government of Yemen and the Houthis to remove bureaucratic impediments to flows of commercial and humanitarian supplies, including fuel, and on the parties to ensure effective and sustained functioning of all of Yemen’s ports, onward road access throughout the country, and the reopening and safe and secure operation of Sana’a airport for commercial flights within an agreed mechanism; further calls on the parties to work with the Special Envoy to strengthen the economy and the functioning of the Central Bank of Yemen and to deliver payment of pensioners and civil servant salaries, and, in this regard, invites international financial institutions to provide appropriate assistance to the Special Envoy on request, and calls on the international community to consider additional funding for the 2019 UN Humanitarian Response Plan;

9. Expresses its deep regret at the loss of life and injuries caused by the conflict, including those caused by land mines, and the killing, maiming, use and unlawful recruitment of children in armed conflict, stresses the importance of all parties to the conflict ensuring the protection of civilians and allowing their safe movement;

10. Calls on all parties to the conflict to comply with applicable international law and to fulfil their obligations under international humanitarian law including to respect and protect medical facilities and personnel and their means of transportation, as such, and calls on them to protect civilian objects including schools and objects indispensable to the civilian population such as those necessary for food distribution, processing and storage, to withdraw any military personnel from civilian infrastructure, and to allow and facilitate the safe, rapid and unhindered access for humanitarian and medical personnel to all those in need, and reiterates that aid should be disbursed on the basis of need and be gender and age sensitive;

11. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

Adopted by the Security Council at its 8439th meeting, on 21 December 2018.