NEW YORK, 7 February, 2021, (TON): The United Nations on 6th February, Saturday welcomed the announcement of U.S. intention to revoke the designation of the Houthi movement in Yemen as a terrorist organization. 

The revocation will provide profound relief to millions of Yemenis who rely on humanitarian assistance and commercial imports to meet their basic survival needs. It will help ensure that much-needed essential goods reach them without significant delays, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in a note to correspondents. 

“At a time when Yemen is at significant risk of famine, maintaining commercial imports and humanitarian assistance in adequate quantities is essential,” said the note. 

"We hope this positive development will contribute to UN efforts to resume a Yemeni-led and Yemeni-owned political process to reach an inclusive, negotiated settlement to the conflict," it added.  

Yemen’s civil war began in 2014 when Houthi insurgents took control of Yemen’s capital and largest city, Sana and forced the Saudi-backed government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemen conflict in March 2015 to support Hadi's government. 

Meanwhile, the conflict continues to take a heavy toll on Yemeni civilians, making Yemen the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The UN estimates that the civilian casualty toll has exceeded 15,000 killed or injured and pushed the country to the brink of famine. 

Separate from the ongoing civil war, the U.S. continued its counterterrorism operations in Yemen, relying mainly on airstrikes in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and militants. 

The United States intends to revoke the Houthi movement’s terrorist designation in response to Yemen’s humanitarian crisis, reversing one of the Trump administration’s most criticized decisions. 

The move came one day after President Joe Biden announced an end to U.S. support for offensive operations in Yemen and his decision to step up diplomacy and support UN-led initiative to end the war.