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The United States announced Friday it is revoking the designation of Yemen's Houthi rebels as a terrorist group effective February 16, a reversal by the Biden administration welcomed by the United Nations and humanitarian groups who feared former president Donald Trump's actions would impede aid deliveries to the conflict-torn country facing the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called President Joe Biden's decision to rescind the designation a recognition of the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen.
He said the new US administration listened to warnings from the United Nations, humanitarian groups, bipartisan members of Congress and others that the designations could have a devastating impact on Yemenis' access to basic commodities like food and fuel.
Yemen imports 90 per cent of its food, nearly all purchased through commercial channels, and UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock warned last month that US designation of the Houthis already had companies pulling back from dealing with the Yemenis and would likely lead to a large-scale famine on a scale that we have not seen for nearly 40 years.
Blinken's announcement followed a phone conversation Thursday with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, where Yemen was one of the issues they discussed.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Friday called the US action extremely positive.