US military support prolongs, deepens crisis in Yemen: NRC

SANAA, April 17 (YPA) – The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) on Wednesday said that the continual US support for a party to conflict in Yemen is deepening and prolonging the crisis.

“By providing such extensive military and diplomatic support for one side of the conflict, the United States is deepening and prolonging a crisis that has immediate and severe consequences for Yemen, and civilians are paying the price,” NRC’s Policy Director Ole Solvang said in a statement on the US President Donald Trump’s veto to a bill to end military support for the war in Yemen.

Solvange noted that if Trump was truly concerned about civilian life, he would first and foremost ensure that the US-supported Saudi-led coalition stop breaking the laws of war and depriving millions of Yemenis of life-saving assistance.

“So far the US has demonstrated little commitment to accountability,” he said.

The statement affirmed that the ongoing attacks on Yemen, including with US weapons, have killed and injured tens of thousands of civilians.

It referred that the war has left 24 million Yemenis – more than three fourths of the entire population – in need of urgent lifesaving aid.

“More bombs and weapons in Yemen will only mean more suffering and death,” read the statement.

@m