The Hill: U.S. must use its leverage to save lives in Yemen
SANAA, April 21 (YPA) – The United States must use its influence to save the lives of Yemeni civilians, the Hill American newspaper reported on Thursday.
The Congress’ message to the administration should be very simple: deploy America’s ample leverage to improve the situation on the ground for civilians., the newspaper added.
The Hill said that Congress has been pushing the administration for over two years about the strategic objectives and the tragic humanitarian consequences of the Yemen war
It confirmed that Congress can press the administration on further actions to alleviate the suffering of Yemen’s people, through the following points:
First, and foremost, ending the war is the most critical step to achieve U.S. interests and alleviate the suffering. The United States has a responsibility, along with the new UN Special Envoy Martin Griffiths, to lead negotiations to end this conflict.
Second, the U.S. must use its leverage with the Saudi-led Coalition to ensure free access through all ports, including the Sana’a International Airport and the principal Red Sea ports of Hodeidah and Saleef.
Third, Congress must push the administration to protect civilians. Unfortunately, civilians are caught in the crossfire of this war—and, in some cases, deliberately attacked. Taken together, the conducts of the operations in Yemen have eroded the already deteriorating norms of the international humanitarian legal system.
Civilian sites such as potato chip factories, hospitals, schools, and marketplaces have been targeted since the beginning of the war, erasing important red lines that combatants must respect, per the Geneva Conventions, the newspaper said.
According to the newspaper: Ongoing restrictions on humanitarian and commercial access, as well as uncertainties about future port closures, have drastically reduced import levels and driven the price of food, fuel, water and other basic necessities beyond the reach of most Yemenis. With Hodeidah responsible for importing nearly 90 percent of all commercial and humanitarian goods, unfettered and permanent access is critical to averting a catastrophe.
It also said that “assistance alone cannot change the underlying drivers of this conflict. Congress has a significant voice and agency in both hastening a diplomatic resolution and ensuring that U.S. leadership can ameliorate the suffering of millions. It must act now before the worst humanitarian crisis in the world gets even worse.”
Emad