US State of Department intends to cancel designation of Ansarullah as terrorists

WASHINGTON, Feb. 06 (YPA) – The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken informed the Congress of his intention to cancel the previous administration’s decision to designate the Houthi group (Ansarullah) in Yemen as a terrorist organization, an official at the Department of State announced Saturday.

The official added, “Our action is entirely due to the humanitarian consequences of this designation taken by the previous administration at the last moment, which the United Nations and humanitarian organizations have made clear since then that will precipitate the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.”

Several humanitarian organizations and parties have expressed their fear of the repercussions of the ‘Houthis’ designation as a terrorist organization on the relief work in areas suffering from difficult humanitarian conditions in Yemen.

Blinken confirmed, in late January, that the decision to designate Ansarullah as a terrorist group “will be reviewed to ensure that it does not prevent assistance to the Yemeni people.”

Last month, the previous US administration included the Houthis group on the list of terrorist organizations, while issuing exemptions to relief organizations.

The United Nations expressed its concern about Washington’s decision, warning of its consequences on the humanitarian situation in Yemen, a position also adopted by the European Union.

YPA