UN probe says repeated bombing of Yemen civilians by US-backed Saudi coalition likely amounts to war crimes
"Despite
the severity of the situation we continue to see a complete disregard
for the people in Yemen," says co-author of UN's investigative
report
by
Jon Queally
Evidence
presented as part of a wide-ranging investigation sponsored by the
United Nations and released Tuesday shows that the military coalition
led by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates waging a war in
Yemen—armed and with backing from the United States and the United
Kingdom—have likely "perpetrated, and continue to
perpetrate, violations and crimes under international law."
Conducted
by the Group of International and Regional Eminent Experts on Yemen,
a body of Yemen and regional experts created by the UN Human Rights
Council, the report documents how indiscriminate bombing by the
Saudi-led coalition has devastated the Yemeni population and details
how civilian targets have repeatedly been struck.
"Despite
the severity of the situation we continue to see a complete disregard
for the people in Yemen," said Charles Garraway, one of the
authors of the report. "This conflict has reached its peak,
with no apparent sight of light at the end of the tunnel. It is
indeed, a forgotten crisis."
According
to the report, which documented the situation in Yemen from when the
current conflict began in March of 2015 up until June of this year:
“Coalition air strikes have caused most of the documented
civilian casualties. In the past three years, such air strikes have
hit residential areas, markets, funerals, weddings, detention
facilities, civilian boats and even medical facilities. The Group of
Experts has investigated 13 such incidents by interviewing victims,
witnesses and other credible sources; analysing satellite imagery,
photographs and videos; and visiting sites in the Hudaydah, Sa’dah
and Sana’a governorates.”
"There
is little evidence of any attempt by parties to the conflict to
minimize civilian casualties. I call on them to prioritise human
dignity in this forgotten conflict," said Kamel Jendoubi,
chairperson of the group of experts.
In
addition to the troubling pattern of targeting and bombing civilian
infrastructure, the report condemns the ongoing blockade by the
coalition, both by sea and by air, of critical supplies into the
war-torn and impoverished country: “The coalition has imposed
severe naval and air restrictions in Yemen, to varying degrees, since
March 2015. There are reasonable grounds to believe that these
restrictions imposed by the coalition constitute a violation of the
proportionality rule of international humanitarian law. Moreover, the
effective closure of Sana’a airport is a violation of international
humanitarian law protection for the sick and wounded. Such acts,
together with the requisite intent, may amount to international
crimes.”
In what
was clearly a reference to both the U.S. and the U.K., the report
urges the international community to "refrain from providing
arms that could be used in the conflict."
An
effort in the U.S. Senate last week to end U.S. support for the
Saudi-led assault, led by Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), was defeated
by Republicans.
Citing
the United Nations Human Rights Office, the report estimated that
6,660 civilians have been killed and 10,563 injured in the war, but
noted that the real figures are likely to be significantly higher.
On
Monday, ahead of this latest report but in the wake of other rebukes
by the UN against the coalition's tactics in the war, Saudi Arabia
lashed out by accusing the world body of "bias" against the
monarchy in Riyadh.
Also on
Monday, the Pentagon offered a tepid statement regarding the ongoing
killing of Yemen civilians, including several recent bombings which
resulted in the mass slaughter of children.
"Recent
events dictated to US military leaders that the situation required
special mention and official emphasis during his visit," Lt
Cmdr Rebecca Rebarich, a DOD spokeswoman, told CNN. "Lt. Gen.
Garrett delivered a message of concern regarding the recent civilian
casualty incident, and on behalf of the US government continued to
urge for a thorough and expedited investigation as well as continued
emphasis on the reduction of civilian casualties in the Yemeni
campaign."
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