Repeated attacks on civilians in Yemen taking terrible toll
– Zeid
GENEVA (9 January 2015) – Deepening insecurity and violence
in Yemen are wreaking a terrible toll on civilians, UN High Commissioner for
Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein warned on Friday, as he appealed for more
international attention to be focused on the plight of Yemenis.
“The past few weeks have seen dozens of people killed in a
succession of bomb attacks in Yemen. Such wanton acts of indiscriminate
violence are utterly deplorable, yet – perhaps because of the violence
engulfing so many other countries – relatively little attention is being paid
to the situation in Yemen,” said High Commissioner Zeid.
The recent bombings include suicide attacks in Radaa in
central Yemen on 16 December that left more than 20 dead, many of them
schoolchildren. On 31 December, a suicide bombing claimed by Al Qaeda in the
Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) killed at least 24 people, while on 4 January six
people were killed when members of Al Houthi movement tried to defuse an
explosive device planted near a girls school in Dhamar. AQAP claimed
responsibility for the explosive device. On 7 January, at least 37 people died
when a car bomb was detonated outside a police college in the capital, Sanaa.
“What does anyone gain by slaughtering civilians –
especially children – in this way?” Zeid said. “I urge all parties in Yemen to
renounce the use of violence to avoid further loss of innocent lives and take
concrete steps towards the immediate and effective implementation of the peace
and partnership agreement.”
In the south of Yemen, security forces are reported to have
used disproportionate force, including firing live ammunition, to break up
demonstrations in the second half of December. There have also been reports of
several civilian deaths, including an incident in Al-Sabbar village where
security forces allegedly killed three people.
“Notwithstanding the difficult situation they face, it is
essential that Government security personnel halt the use of excessive force,
resulting in civilian deaths, and that both government and armed groups cease
carrying out arbitrary detention,” Zeid said. “Violations of international
human rights law by all sides must be promptly, independently and effectively
investigated to bring perpetrators to justice and ensure that victims’ right to
justice and remedy is upheld,” he added.
ENDS
For further information and media requests, please contact:
Rupert Colville (+41 22 917 9767 / rcolville@ohchr.org) or
Liz Throssell (+41 22 917 9466/ ethrossell@ohchr.org )
UN Human Rights, follow us on social media:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/UNrightswire
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/UNOHCHR
Storify: http://storify.com/UNrightswire
Check the Universal Human Rights Index:
http://uhri.ohchr.org/en
Nema komentara:
Objavi komentar