In reaction to the Trump administration’s re-designation of Yemen’s Houthis as a terrorist organization, Oxfam America’s Director of Peace & Security Scott Paul said:
“The Trump administration’s decision to re-designate the Houthis as a terrorist organization is yet another blow to Yemenis caught in 10 years of deadly conflict. We’ve seen before the devastating impacts of President Trump’s previous designation on Yemeni communities: in the months preceding the designation and during the week it was in effect, imports of necessities like food, medicine, and fuel all dropped and the economy fell into further crisis and the humanitarian situation deteriorated. The Trump administration is aware of these consequences but chose to move forward anyway, and will bear responsibility for the hunger and disease that will follow.
“We know that humanitarian exemptions weren’t enough to stop the immediate impacts – even with those caveats, exporters canceled contracts, banks prepared to scale back, and humanitarian organizations began to plan for a dramatic escalation with even fewer resources and more constraints.
“The Houthis have violated the rights of Yemeni people and carried out attacks outside of Yemen. Like other armed groups in the conflict, they have committed atrocities in the decade-long conflict and have not faced accountability. But no matter their actions, designating them as a terrorist group only compounds the suffering of Yemenis and is unlikely to alter the Houthis’ policies. Instead, the US should support new, independent accountability mechanisms and a renewed focus on a political settlement to the conflict.”
Abdulwasea Mohammed, Oxfam in Yemen’s Policy, Advocacy and Media Manager, added:
“As we reach the grim milestone of ten years of this conflict, Yemenis feel the impact of the Houthis attacks in Yemen and across the region. We need to see real accountability that helps Yemeni communities now and leads to a sustainable peace and stability – not designations that score political points and put communities at further risk. We urge US leaders to not place Yemenis in the middle of regional dynamics and consider the people who will actually suffer from this decision.
"Yemen imports nearly all of its food and over half its fuel, making it particularly dependent on these basics to meet daily needs. The small number of Yemeni food producers are also suffering from rising fuel prices and impacts of climate change.
"The designation will also impact the vital lifeline of remittances to Yemenis living in Houthi controlled areas which accounts for a vast majority of the country’s population. Hundreds of thousands of families rely on these resources to make ends meet. A designation would push the entire country’s economy from crisis into freefall."
Oxfam is a global organization that fights inequality to end poverty and injustice. We offer lifesaving support in times of crisis and advocate for economic justice, gender equality, and climate action. We demand equal rights and equal treatment so that everyone can thrive, not just survive. The future is equal. Join us at oxfamamerica.org.
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Notes to Editors:
The UN has just released the 2025 Humanitarian Needs Overview for Yemen, which states that in 2025, an estimated 19.5 million people across Yemen need humanitarian assistance and protection services — 1.3 million people more than last year.