Yemen’s national human rights commission says continued closure of Sanaa airport is humanitarian violation
SANAA, July 06 (YPA) – Yemen’s National Human Rights Commission said on Sunday continued closure of Sanaa International Airport and restrictions on its operations constitute an ongoing humanitarian violation and collective punishment against civilians in Yemen.
In a statement, the commission said the airport’s closure represents a serious violation of international humanitarian law and international human rights conventions, arguing that it deprives millions of Yemenis of their right to travel, seek medical treatment abroad, and move freely through a key civilian facility.
The commission stated that denying more than 30 million people access to the airport amounts to the unlawful use of civilian infrastructure as a tool of political pressure, describing it as a grave violation that warrants international legal accountability.
According to the statement, the airport’s closure for nearly 11 years has worsened Yemen’s humanitarian crisis by preventing patients from obtaining medical treatment overseas, restricting the movement of students and workers, and separating families, which it said constitutes a direct violation of rights guaranteed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The commission also warned that politicizing airports and air transport routes sets a dangerous precedent by undermining the principle of protecting civilian infrastructure during conflict, and said those responsible bear legal and moral responsibility for the continuing humanitarian consequences.
It further argued that the lack of urgent international action reflects a serious failure by the international community to address the suffering of the Yemeni people, calling on the United Nations, the UN Human Rights Council, and the UN Security Council to intervene.
The commission urged the full reopening of Sanaa International Airport without political or military conditions, describing it as an urgent legal and humanitarian obligation.
It added that the continued closure would remain a matter of international concern and maintained that civilians’ rights to travel and access medical care cannot be suspended under any pretext.