Cry of alarm from Yemen

Local Editor

Yemen currently presents the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Approximately 22 million people, the equivalent of 75% of the population, are in need of some kind of assistance and humanitarian aid. This has been noted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, expressing in a memo concern for the civilian population affected by the conflict. About 2.3 million have been dispersed while more than a million others have been repatriated, as well as 270,000 refugees and 10,000 asylum seekers present in Yemen.

In order to help protect the rights of those forced to flee, the UNHCR has asked all parties involved in the conflict to respect international humanitarian law, international human rights, and the rights of refugees. The memo contains a special request to protect the civilian population fleeing from the fighting in Al-Huydaydah, the strategically positioned port city through which 80% of assistance and foodstuffs reach Yemen.

The international offensive launched by the Saudis aiming to conquer the city began in June and has caused the forced exile of more than 50,800 families, according to data provided by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
In the meantime, a warning has been issued by the US Secretary of Defense, James Mattis, according to whom US support of a Saudi-led military campaign against rebels “is not unconditional”. This declaration follows rising controversy against Washington for its support of a conflict in which the number of civilian victims continues to rise.

The Saudis must “do everything humanly possible to avoid any innocent loss of life” and “support the U.N.-brokered peace process”.

Source: L’osservatore Romano, Edited by Website Team