Eritrea accused of deadly attack on Yemeni fishermen in Red Sea

SANAA, Jan. 28 (YPA) – The Sanaa-based General Authority for Fisheries in the Red Sea strongly condemned on Wednesday the attack that the Eritrean authorities carried out against Yemeni fishermen within territorial waters.

In a statement, the authority described the attack as a grave violation of international and humanitarian laws and conventions, and a dangerous escalation and a direct attack on the livelihoods of Yemeni fishermen

The statement said that an Eritrean naval patrol opened direct fire on a fishing boat carrying around 50 Yemeni fishermen near Sawaba Island in the Red Sea.

One fisherman was killed, several others were injured, and a number of fishermen, who were forcibly taken to Eritrean territory, were arrested, in a new series of repeated attacks and violations against Yemeni fishermen.

The Authority hold the Eritrean authorities fully responsible for the crime and its consequences, urging the United Nations, along with international and humanitarian organizations, to fulfill their responsibilities by condemning these violations and exerting pressure to halt the recurring attacks on Yemeni fishermen in the Red Sea.

The statement warned that continued international silence only encourages further abuses, stressing that such crimes would not lapse with time until those responsible be held accountable.

AA