Mr. Ali Abdullah Al-Kathiri, Acting President of the Southern Transitional Council (STC) and Chairman of the National Assembly, received today, Thursday, Mr. Sarhad Fattah, Deputy UN Special Envoy, and his accompanying delegation.

In the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Al-Kathiri welcomed Mr. Sarhad's visit to the capital, Aden, and reviewed with him the developments of the political, economic, and military situation in the country, as well as the efforts exerted by the United Nations and its special envoy to cease the war and prepare for the launch of a comprehensive dialogue to achieve a lasting and just peace that satisfies all parties.

The meeting touched on the grave repercussions of the ongoing economic collapse and the deterioration of services resulting from the Houthi militia's targeting of oil export ports, their continued escalation against maritime shipping lanes, military mobilization, and attacks on civilian areas along the front lines. the complications that this escalation imposes on any potential solutions to the crisis.

Al-Kathiri reiterated the STC's commitment to remaining open to all efforts and initiatives aimed at ending the war and brining about a lasting and sustainable peace, in accordance with an inclusive political process that accommodates all parties and issues, foremost among them the cause of the people of the South within its special negotiating framework.

Al-Kathiri indicated that the STC categorically rejects the Houthis' attempts to weaponize the economy for political gain. In this context, we call on the United Nations, our Arab coalition partners, and donor countries to assist in finding urgent solutions to the dire economic situation in governorates of the South and liberated areas, which has reached a point beyond the endurance of the people.

Al-Kathiri highlighted the need for the international community to prioritize the situation in the country and take a firm stance against the continued Houthi aggression and their aggressive practices, as an Iranian tool seeking to blackmail the region and the world and using the war in Gaza as a pretext to threaten international peace and security.

For his part, Mr. Sarhad expressed his gratitude to the STC's unwavering support for the efforts to end the war and bring about peace and its readiness to exert maximum efforts and engage positively with all initiatives aimed at resolving the crisis.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Bert Scott, Acting Office Director of the UN Special Envoy in the capital, Aden, Major General Kamal Hamshari, a member of the SRC's Presidium and Acting Secretary-General of the General Secretariat of the Presidium of the STC, Dr. Suhair Ali Ahmed, Head of the Women Commission, assisting the Presidium of the STC, Mr. Anis Al-Sharafi, Deputy Director of the Foreign and Expatriates Affairs Authority (FEAA) of the STC, and Dr. Khaled Ba-Madhaf, deputy head of the Political Commission of the STC