More than 50 million tons of fuel and commercial goods entered the port of Yemen's Hodeidah in 8 years

The United Nations has stated that the ports of Hodeidah, Salif, and Ras Issa on the Red Sea have received 50.5 million tons of essential supplies since the establishment of the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism "UNVIM" in May 2016. This has allowed the Iran-backed Houthis to generate huge financial revenues by collecting hundreds of billions of rials in taxes, customs duties, and managing the black market, which have been used to fund their war effort and enrich their leaders.

The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services, Jorge Moreira da Silva, announced that the "UNVIM" mechanism managed by the office has facilitated the entry of over 30 million metric tonnes of food, almost 15 million metric tonnes of fuel, and over 5.5 million metric tonnes of other cargo into Yemen.

The safe passage of those supplies completely contradicts the claims made by the Houthis during the years of war, as there were severe restrictions on the entry of commercial goods into the ports of Hodeidah. This enabled the Houthis to exploit the years of war to create crises and shortages in fuel and essential goods, selling them at inflated prices, and exploiting human suffering to make huge profits that were later used to purchase land and real estate, as well as establish private investment projects such as schools, universities, hospitals, currency exchange companies, and fuel stations.

"As we mark nine years of conflict in Yemen, UNOPS remains committed to helping respond to humanitarian needs, while supporting Yemenis in their path to peace and sustainable development. In the face of a dire humanitarian situation, with over half of the population in need of assistance and protection services, we work with our partners to bring practical solutions to urgent needs". Silva said.

This work includes restoring and improving access to essential social services in urban areas, including water, health, and sanitation, solid waste management and electricity for millions of people. It entails our efforts to bring solar energy to many parts of the country and repair transport infrastructure across Yemen.

These projects, among others, manifest our commitment to the people of Yemen, to help build peace, resilience, and better lives. He added.