The United Nations has warned Yemen is on the brink of civil war and risks complete political collapse. Yemen has been in limbo since Houthi rebels forced the resignation of the Yemeni cabinet and then seized power. Addressing the Security Council, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Yemen faces a host of additional issues, including an al-Qaeda insurgency and a major humanitarian crisis.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: “Let me be clear. Yemen is collapsing before our eyes. We cannot stand by and watch. The country is facing multiple challenges. A dangerous political crisis continues in Sana’a. There are more widespread and lethal attacks by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, with increasing hostilities between AQAP and the Houthis in various provinces south of Sana’a, such as Damar and al-Bayda. There are increasing secessionist tendencies in the South, and an acute humanitarian crisis.”

The United States, Britain and France have closed their embassies in the capital Sana’a over security concerns. On Thursday, al-Qaeda-linked fighters seized an army base in southern Yemen and held soldiers captive.