7 July 2015
Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights: Cécile Pouilly
Location:
Geneva
Subject:
Yemen
We are deeply concerned about the worsening human rights
and humanitarian situation in Yemen, where civilians continue to bear the brunt
of the conflict. Between 17 June and 3 July, at least 92 civilians, including
18 women and 18 children, were killed and 179 others, including 43 women and 30
children, were injured throughout the country. These figures bring the total
number of civilians reportedly killed and injured since 27 March 2015 to 1,528
and 3,605 respectively. Over 1 million civilians have been internally displaced
or have sought refuge in neighboring countries since the conflict began.
Since June 17, coalition forces have continued aerial
bombardment and other attacks. Ground clashes, shelling, sniper fire, and
detonation of improvised explosive devices have also been reported in different
governorates in Yemen.
Over the past few weeks, our team on the ground has been
able to document human rights violations and abuses and violations of
international humanitarian law by all parties to the conflict. These include
violations of the right to life, abduction, ill-treatment, restrictions on
freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, attacks against humanitarian
workers, medical staff and facilities, as well as journalists and media
organisations.
Dozens of civilians have been abducted and subjected to
arbitrary detention in Sana’a. We have also received worrying reports that
local Popular Resistance committees affiliated with exiled President Abd Rabbo
Mansour Hadi have summarily executed at least six people perceived to be loyal
to the Houthi-Saleh coalition and committed acts of ill-treatment.
We are also deeply worried about increasing attacks
against places of worship. The targeting of five Zaydi mosques using car bombs
over the past few weeks points to an alarming trend aimed at creating sectarian
divisions.
Since 17 June, there has been further destruction of
civilian infrastructure, with at least 36 buildings, including hospitals,
schools, court houses, power generation facilities, and communications
institutions partially or totally damaged in the governorates of Sana’a, Aden,
Taiz, Al-Jawf, Al-Mahwit, and Hajjah.
We have also closely monitored attacks against United
Nations offices by the parties to the conflict. On 28 June, one civilian was injured
in an airstrike that hit and partially destroyed the UNDP office in Khormaksar,
Aden. IOM’s Migrant Response Centre in Basateen, also in Aden, was struck by a
mortar and an airstrike damaged IOM’s office in Harad.
Humanitarian access remains severely constrained by
recent violence. Since the beginning of the conflict, land, air and maritime
restrictions have severely reduced imports. Food and other essential imports
have significantly dropped. We have also received reports of very serious
constraints to humanitarian access in Aden, Al-Dhali, Taiz and Lahj, where
Houthi-affiliated Popular Committees and armed forces units loyal to former
President Ali Abdalla Saleh have set up checkpoints controlling entry and exit
of goods.
In addition to insecurity on the roads and the blocking
of access to food and clean water, restrictions of movement have been imposed
on civilians. Shortages of medicine, essential medical supplies and fuel have
reached critical levels, creating an extremely challenging situation and
further deteriorating Yemen’s healthcare system.
Once again, we urge all sides to the conflict to ensure
that international human rights law and international humanitarian law are
respected, and to ensure that all feasible measures are taken to ensure civilians
are protected. International humanitarian law imposes on parties to a conflict
the duty to allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian
relief for civilians in need.
ENDS
In response to a question on attacks against United Nations
offices: We call on all parties to respect the inviolability of UN premises in
accordance with applicable international law protecting UN facilities,
including the Convention on the Safety of United Nations and associated
personnel.
For further information and media requests, please
contact Rupert Colville (+41 22 917 9767 / rcolville@ohchr.org) or Cécile
Pouilly (+41 22 917 9310 / cpouilly@ohchr.org)
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