Yemen: The world must be prepared for rapid collapse into
mass displacement crisis – UN expert
GENEVA (8 April 2015) – The UN Special Rapporteur on the
human rights of internally displaced persons, Chaloka Beyani, today urged the
international community “to prepare for massive displacement and humanitarian
crisis as conflict torn Yemen further descends into chaos and civilians flee
the fighting.”
“The international community must prepare for a worst case
scenario. While efforts to reach a diplomatic solution are essential, the
picture on the ground is extremely bleak and humanitarian responses must be
stepped up as a matter of urgency,” Mr. Beyani stated, while praising the
efforts of relief and humanitarian agencies to-date.
“Unless rapidly resolved, the crisis could lead to mass
displacement in the wake of heavy and ongoing fighting and airstrikes,” the
expert said. More than 540 people have been killed in fighting in the last two
weeks, out of which 311 are civilians, including 74 children. At least 513 civilians have been injured,
and more than 100,000 have been displaced according to UN humanitarian
agencies.
Mr. Beyani strongly condemned the apparent targeting of
internally displaced persons in the air bombing campaign. On 30 March, an
airstrike carried out against the Al-Mazraq camp, home to over 4000 IDPs in
Hajjah Governorate, northern Yemen, led to the deaths of 25, with 37 others
injured, including 12 children. The UN expert joined humanitarian actors in
condemning the attack and described it as “a grave violation against some of
the most vulnerable of the vulnerable civilians.”
In addition to the IDP camp, reports have indicated that
numerous hospitals, schools and other civilian buildings have been damaged by
airstrikes and power and water supplies cut. Thousands of people are in an
extremely vulnerable situation having been forced to flee their homes in areas
including Aden, Sana’a, Sa’dah and Dhale where fighting has become intense and
spread to residential neighbourhoods.
“Those responsible for violations of international
humanitarian and human rights law, including the indiscriminate targeting of
civilians, must be held accountable,” the Special Rapporteur stressed.
The Special Rapporteur joined humanitarian actors, including
the UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Yemen, Johannes van Der Klaauw, in calling
on all parties to allow unhindered access to civilians by humanitarian actors.
He underscored that IDPs must be protected against direct or indiscriminate
attacks or acts of violence and attacks against their camps or settlements, in
line with the UN Guiding Principles* on Internal Displacement.
“While the scale of internal displacement remains unclear at
this stage, it is certain to grow significantly over the coming days and weeks,
as clashes continue to take place,” Mr Beyani said. A total of 14 Governorates
out of 22 have been affected by airstrikes or armed conflict.
(*) Check the UN Guiding Principles on Internal
Displacement:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IDPersons/Pages/Standards.aspx
ENDS
Mr. Chaloka Beyani, Professor of international law at the
London School of Economics, was appointed Special Rapporteur on the Human
Rights of Internally Displaced Persons by the Human Rights Council in September
2010. Learn more, visit: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/IDPersons/Pages/IDPersonsIndex.aspx
The Special Rapporteurs are part of what is known as the
Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures, the largest
body of independent experts in the UN Human Rights system, is the general name
of the Council’s independent fact-finding and monitoring mechanisms that
address either specific country situations or thematic issues in all parts of
the world. Special Procedures’ experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not
UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from
any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity.
UN Human Rights, Country Page – Yemen:
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/MENARegion/Pages/YEIndex.aspx
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9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org)
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