Ban Ki-Moon agrees to international inspection regime for trade imports to Yemen

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric announced yesterday that Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has agreed to set up a “UN Verification and Inspection Mission (UNVIM)” in order to allow more commercial imports into Yemen.

Dujarric said that Ki-Moon approved the establishment of an international inspection mechanism, the UN Verification and Inspection Mission (UNVIM), in order “to increase the flow of commercial goods into Yemen by sea in accordance with Security Council Resolution 2216.”

Dujarric told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York that “the UNVIM was set up in response to a request from Yemen and an agreement was reached by the United Nations, the Yemeni government and the Arab Coalition in this regard.”

He added, “UNVIM will apply only to commercial imports. Shipments from UN humanitarian organisations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the International Organisation for Migration will not be subject to verification.” He also said that “A steering committee which includes experts from the UN, the government of Yemen, and the Coalition will be established to oversee the work of the Mechanism, the funding of which is open to all UN member states.”

Security Council Resolution 2216 was adopted by the majority of 14 affirmative votes to none, with one abstention by Russia on 14 April, 2015. The resolution, proposed by a number of Arab countries, prohibits the import of arms to the Houthis and reaffirmed the council’s support for Yemeni President Abd Rabbo Mansour Hadi and the efforts of the GCC.