The United Nations Security Council has launched an inspection mechanism of commercial shipments to Yemen based in Djibouti, following a request by the Government of Yemen.
The inspection mechanism will replace the one previously conducted by the Saudi-led coalition forces, which proved to be very slow. According to a ban imposed by Yemen’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in April, 2015 , ships were not allowed into Yemen unless inspected and approved by the coalition.
The objective of the ban was to stop shipments that could assist the Houthi led forces in their conflict with the government forces.
The UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism (UNVIM) should provide fast and impartial clearance services for shipping companies transporting commercial imports and bilateral assistance to Yemeni ports outside of the authority of the Yemeni Government, according to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
It is aimed at ” facilitating the unimpeded flow of commercial goods and services”, while ensuring compliance with the arms embargo created by the Security Council, he added.
The inspection mechanism has been established by the joint efforts of the European Union, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
As explained by the Secretary, the launch of UNVIM is part of broader efforts to “bring relief to suffering Yemeni civilians, which he hopes will culminate in a negotiated political settlement between the Yemeni parties through UN-mediated talks under way in Kuwait.”
The inspection was announced in September and the project is being set in motion after it managed to secure USD 8 million.