UN calls for immediate cease military action in Yemen

SANAA, Nov. 12 (YPA) – The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet expressed her anger at the loss of hostilities in Hodeidah province, which targeted civilians.

In a press release issued late on Saturday, Bachelet called for the immediate end of the military escalation which she said also leads to the increase of the “catastrophic food insecurity of some 14 million people across the country”.

Bachelet urged the coalition to allow safe and urgent access to humanitarian supplies and other goods and end the suffering of Yemenis.

“The Saudi-led Coalition, exiled president Hadi forces, the Yemen army forces and those who supply arms or other support to the parties to the conflict have the power or the influence to stop the starvation and killing of civilians, to give some reprieve to the people of Yemen,” she said.

“Violations by one party to the conflict do not give absolute authority to the other party to the absolute response,” she said, noting that the parties to the conflict are bound to respect international humanitarian law and human rights law as applicable,” she added.

According to information by the UN Human Rights Office, at least 110 airstrikes were carried out in Hodeidah, Saada and Sanaa between Oct. 31 and Nov. 6.

Coalition warplanes have been hovering at low altitude in Hodeidah since Thursday, as the army forces fire anti-aircraft missiles and mortars, and violent street clashes continued, she added.

“I also remind States that the Geneva Conventions stipulate that all States, including those not involved in the armed conflict, have the obligation to take measures to ensure respect for the Conventions by parties to a conflict, conditioning, limiting or refusing arms transfers is one measure,” she said.

The Human Rights Office also expressed concern about the fate of 900 detainees in the central prison and temporary detention facilities in Hodeidah.

Sameera Hassn