[09/07/2025 07:59]

NEW YORK - SABA
The government of Yemen has called countries, organizations and international bodies concerned with marine environmental protection to urgently address the crisis of the tanker "Magic Seas" and to prevent a serious environmental disaster.

In a speech delivered by Permanent Representative to the United Nation in Security Council' session on Yemen, Ambassador Abdullah al-Saadi emphasized the importance of establishing effective international mechanisms for the urgent handling of such incidents and disasters, especially in light of the ongoing direct attacks by Houthi militias on oil and chemical resource tankers in international shipping lanes.

"In a serious development, the terrorist Houthi militias have taken control of the tanker 'Nautica,' which was purchased by the United Nations as part of its plan to rescue the dilapidated tanker 'Safer,' anchored off the coast of Hodeidah, to avert an environmental, economic, and humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen and the region. We had previously warned in August 2023 about the potential seizure of the 'Nautica' by these militias as a replacement for the Safer tanker, and we called upon the international community and the United Nations to monitor the steps and implementation phases of the rescue plan to ensure that these militias do not exploit the replacement tanker for their own interests."

The Houthi militias' takeover of Tanker Nautica and transferring it into a floating storage facility for smuggling and storing Iranian oil represents a blatant violation and a gross breach of agreements and commitments made with the United Nations regarding the Safer tanker.

"This undermines the efforts of this esteemed council and the United Nations and sets a dangerous precedent that threatens the security and safety of United Nations assets and operations."

These militias are using both the Nautica and Safer tankers, despite their deterioration and the risk of sinking or explosion, to store oil shipments arriving at the ports they control, he said.

Ambassador al- Saadi also called on the Security Council and the United Nations to assume their responsibilities, conduct an urgent investigation, and restore the full role of the United Nations in overseeing the tanker, ensuring that the Houthi militias do not use it for their interests, circumvent the classification decision, and hold the perpetrators of these violations accountable.

He reiterated pointed out to economic and service situation in Yemen saying it remains the most significant challenge for the Presidential Leadership Council and the Yemeni government, and it is at the forefront of their highest priorities.

He explained that the Yemeni government continues its efforts to implement economic, financial and administrative reforms, fulfill its obligations, and work on improving economic and service conditions, particularly in electricity and energy, ensuring timely salary payments, sustaining essential services, improving the value of the national currency, combating corruption, enhancing and diversifying revenues, and rationalizing expenditures to achieve financial and monetary stability.

This includes taking several measures to overcome current challenges that have directly impacted the government's ability to provide essential services to citizens and alleviate their daily suffering under the current difficult circumstances, especially with the ongoing halt of oil exports and its catastrophic repercussions on living and economic conditions.

Ambassador Al-Saadi made an appeal on behalf of the Yemeni government to brotherly and friendly countries and international donor organizations to support its efforts so that it can provide essential services, fulfill its obligations, enhance economic recovery and stability, and respond to the priorities of the current phase.

This support aligns with international and regional efforts to achieve peace and restore security and stability in Yemen, representing an investment in regional and international security and peace.

The Permanent Representative of Yemen to the United Nations affirmed the commitment of the Presidential Leadership Council and the Yemeni government to a peace approach and support all regional and international efforts, as well as the efforts of the United Nations through its special envoy to Yemen aimed at achieving comprehensive, just, and sustainable peace based on the agreed political solution references, primarily the relevant Security Council resolutions, especially Resolution 2216.

He reiterated that the success of any political approach to achieve peace and end the Yemeni crisis requires addressing the root causes of this crisis, which stem from the Houthi militias' coup against the state and its constitutional institutions, national consensus, and the aspirations of the Yemeni people.

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