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The European Union has censured a US decision to blacklist Yemen’s Houthi Ansarullah movement, warning that the move could hinder aid deliveries to the war-torn country.
Josep Borrell, EU foreign policy chief, criticized on Tuesday the US decision to label the popular Yemeni movement as a foreign “terrorist” organization and said the designation "risks rendering UN-led efforts to reach a comprehensive solution to the Yemen conflict more difficult.”
Borrell added that the US move would complicate the necessary diplomatic engagement with Houthi Ansarullah movement in Yemen as well as the work of the international community on political, humanitarian and developmental matters.
"The designation is likely to have disruptive effects on the delivery of humanitarian aid funded by the international community and further aggravate the economic crisis which has resulted from over five years of conflict," the EU’s top diplomat underlined.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday said he intends to designate the Houthi movement as a foreign “terrorist” group, and that the move will come into effect on January 19 — one day before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, whose aides have hoped to mount a fresh push to end Yemen’s devastating six-year war.
Washington’s decision has drawn criticism from the United Nations and aid groups as well as lawmakers inside the United States. Under US law, Congress has seven days to review and reject a designation of a terrorist group.
Yemen’s Ansarullah movement has also condemned the move, saying it reserves the right to respond.
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