イエメン大飢饉の恐れ　国連、フーシ派のテロ組織指定撤回を米に要請

【国連本部ＡＦＰ＝時事】イエメンの反政府武装勢力フーシ派を米国が「テロ組織」に指定したことを受けて、国連高官らは14日、安全保障理事会に対し、深刻な飢饉（ききん）を回避するために、米国はこの決定を撤回すべきだと訴えた。（写真は重機関銃を持つ戦闘員。イエメン・アルジャダーン地区で）
　米国によるフーシ派のテロ組織指定は、内戦が続くイエメンの人道危機がさらに悪化する恐れがあるとして、人道支援団体や欧州連合（ＥＵ）をはじめ、多方面から非難されている。
　国連のマーク・ローコック国連事務次長（人道問題担当）は、「起こり得る人道上の影響は何か。その答えは、過去４０年近く起きていなかった規模の大飢饉だ」と警鐘を鳴らした。
　米国は人道支援団体による物資の配給を例外的に許可することを提案しているが、飢饉を回避するには不十分だとローコック氏は指摘。
　支援団体は先に、同国北部で事実上政府の役割を担っているフーシ派と協力するより他に手はないとしていた。
　テロ組織指定後は米国からの処罰を避けるため、フーシ派の当局との取引の多くが停止するとみられている。これには医療従事者らの給与や、食料や燃料の費用の送金も含まれる。
　国連は、イエメンでは今年約１６００万人が飢えに直面すると推測している。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/01/18-13:57）

The United States must cancel its decision to classify Yemen's Huthi rebels as terrorists to avoid a catastrophic famine, several United Nations officials told the Security Council on Thursday.
The terrorist classification has drawn criticism from aid groups, the European Union and many others over fears it will exacerbate the already dire humanitarian crisis in war-ravaged Yemen.
What is the likely humanitarian impact? The answer is a large-scale famine on a scale that we have not seen for nearly 40 years, said Mark Lowcock, the UN undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs.
He said exemptions to allow aid agencies to deliver supplies, as suggested by Washington, would not be sufficient to avoid a famine, adding what would prevent it? A reversal of the decision.
Outgoing US President Donald Trump's administration announced the last-ditch move on Sunday with just days to go before his successor Joe Biden takes over.
The designation is set to come into force on January 19 -- the eve of the inauguration of Biden, whose aides had hoped to mount a fresh push to end Yemen's six-year war.
It is also seen as complicating the incoming US leader's promised efforts to restart diplomacy with Iran, which has links to the Huthis.
The rebels control much of Yemen and have faced a bloody offensive from US ally Saudi Arabia, with millions in the country depending on aid to survive.
Designation as a terrorist group is expected to halt many transactions with Huthi authorities, including bank transfers, paying medical personnel and for food and fuel, due to fears of US prosecution.
- 'A death sentence' -
Aid groups have said that they have no option but to deal with what is the de facto government in northern Yemen.
The UN envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, said he backed Lowcock's stance that the US decision would contribute to famine in Yemen and thus should be revoked.
We fear that there will be inevitably a chilling effect on my efforts to bring the parties together, added Griffiths, who has regular contact with the Huthis.
It was the first time that the UN, usually cautious with its largest financial contributor, has so clearly criticized the outgoing US administration.
About 16 million people will go hungry this year in Yemen, the UN predicts.
David Beasley, head of the World Food Program, discarded his prepared speech to warn of a catastrophic famine.
What do you think is going to happen to five million people that are in emergency classification now? They are going to slide into famine conditions, he said.
We are struggling now with a designation (which) is going to be catastrophic. It is literally going to be a death sentence to hundreds of thousands if not millions of innocent people.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres of course supports the calls for the United States to withdraw its decision, his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said during his daily press briefing.
But Saudi Arabia this week welcomed the US move, saying it was in line with the legitimate Yemen government's calls to put an end to the activities of the militia supported by Iran.
Deputy US Ambassador to the UN Richard Mills pointed out that the US was the largest humanitarian aid donor, and he offered assurances that exemptions would limit the impact of the American decision.
Lowcock made an urgent appeal for donations, saying in 2020, we received $1.7 billion for the UN response plan. About half of what we needed. And less than half of what we got the year before.
The aid operation used to help 13.5 million people every month. Now we're helping just over 9 million, he said. Less money means stopping key programmes, including food aid.