Saudi-led Coalition Has Been Targeting Civilians in Yemen for Two Years

March 25 | Yamanyoon

Organization for Human Rights declared that the Saudi-led Arab coalition must immediately stop apparent targeting civilians and civilian objects in Yemen.

In a statement on the second anniversary of the start of the Saudi-led Arab coalition’s military operations in Yemen, Mwatana appealed to states that support the coalition, especially the United States and the United Kingdom, to enforce an embargo on arms due to their possible use against civilians and civilian targets. Instead, Mwatana urges states that support the coalition to support civilian victims through putting pressure to establish an international independent mechanism to investigate the coalition’s violations.

HRO has documented at least 132 attacks launched by the Saudi-led Arab coalition between March 2015 and March 2017 in 13 Yemeni governorates: Sa’ada, Hajja, Hodeida, Mareb, Jawf, Sana’a, Amran, Ibb, Taiz, Lahj, Aden, Shabwa and al-Bayda.

Theses attacks killed at least 1630 civilians including 418 children and 192 women.

At least 1872 civilians were injured including 308 children and 168 women.

On this occasion, chairperson of Mwatana for Human Rights, Radhya al-Mutawakel, says: “ For two years now, civilians in Yemen have witnessed, the reckless conduct of the Saudi-led coalition in many of its attacks that resulted in thousands of Yemeni victims among whom are women and children.

The attacks also destroyed civilian objects as well as historical and archaeological sites. Justice must take its course against those responsible for such violations that may amount to war crimes. The world must open its eyes to this forgotten blood.”